THE
MIRROR OF PERFECTION
to wit
The Blessed Francis of Assisi
By "BROTHER LSO OF ASSISI
IVith a Preface by FATHER CUTHBERT, O.S.F.C.
BURNS & GATES LTD
28 Orchard Street, London, W.
PREFACE
THE MIRROR OF PERFEC
TION of the Blessed Francis be
longs properly to polemical litera
ture; it is an argument taken from
the acts and words of St. Francis in
favour of what a party within the Franciscan
Order considered to be the true Franciscan life.
As is well known, there arose in the very early
days of the Franciscan Order a conflict of
opinion as to whether the Friars should abide
in their primitive simplicity and unconven
tional poverty or, in view of new circumstances,
approximate more closely to the institutions of
other religious orders. That was really the
essential question at issue.
With the growth of the Order and the ex
tension of its activities, some development or
change of organisation was needed. It was
manifest to the body of the Friars that the
simple arrangements and idyllic unconven-
tionality of the first days must give place to a
more formal organisation, if the vast number of
Friars shortly to be scattered throughout
Europe were not to degenerate into an un
disciplined crowd. Under any circumstances
vii.
there would have been a peculiar difficulty in
adapting the Franciscan life to the practical
needs of a widespread organisation, because of
the singular idealism in which the Order had
its spiritual origin. Amongst religious orders
the Franciscan was unique, because the verj
reason of its existence was to open the way foi
the life of perfect poverty and unworldly sim
plicity for which so many religious souls in thu
Middle Ages were athirst. How to preserve thi;
exalted idealism, whilst recognising the practical
needs of a prosaic world in which the Friar
must live and work, was the great problen
which faced the Order in the latter days of St
Francis. The difficulty was increased by ai
active party amongst the Friars who sought t
remould the Order upon conventional lines, wit
but little regard to the primitive Francisca
spirit and idealism. The contention whic
thus began in the days of St. Francis, becam
more acute after his death; it lasted throughou
the thirteenth century and eventually resulte
in the division of the Order into various "fami
lies" with separate jurisdictions.
The Mirror of Perfection originated in th
controversy and voices the opposition towan
a line of development which many of the Fria:
viii.
deemed inconsistent with the original purpose
ind spirit of the Franciscan Order. It was
probably composed about the end of the
thirteenth century or at the beginning of the
fourteenth.* To speak of it as a "Legend" (in
he mediaeval sense of the word) would be in-
:orrect : it really is a "memorial" compiled from
earlier documents and designed to set forth what
he compiler and those of like mind with him
:onsidered the true life of a Friar Minor accord-
ng to the intentions of St. Francis. Such
memorials" were not uncommon about the
jnd of the thirteenth century. Their purpose
ivas not merely to protest against the "party of
elaxation," but also to foster and strengthen
:he party of "strict observance." The Fioretti^
n its original Latin text, belongs to this category.
To understand the workmanship of these
memorials," we must remember that amongst
he Friars who adhered to the primitive ideal
* When M. Paul Sabatier edited, in 1898, the Latin text
vhich Dr. Sebastian Evans has here so delightfully trans-
ated, he announced it as "the most ancient legend" of St.
rancis, "completed in 1227." The learned editor was led
nto this mistake by a copyist s error, of the sort very frequent
n mediaeval manuscripts. The Mazarine MS. which M.
abatier edited bears the date MCCXXVIII. It is now
ertain that the mediaeval copyist should have written
wcccxxvm.
ix.
the writings of the companions of St. Francis
and their disciples were fondly treasured; and
so, too, were the oral traditions handed down
from generation to generation. These writings
and traditions were a sort of charter of the
spiritual freedom of the observants. It was from
these early writings and traditions that the
memorialisls drew their material. In the case
of the Mirror of Perfeftion^ there can be little
doubt that the compiler had in his hands a copy
of the writings of Brother Leo, the belovec
disciple of St. Francis, and of those companions
of the saint, who, as we know, at the instance oJ
the Minister-General Crescentius, committee
to writing their remembrances of the acts anc
words of St. Francis.
From the writings of these companions
Thomas of Celano wrote his Legenda Secunda
Now, in the Mirror of Perfection there are 8(
passages which correspond almost identicall;
with the Legenda Secunda; but a critical com
parison between the two texts leaves hardl;
any doubt that in the Mirror of Perfedion w
have, if not the original text itself of the writ
ings of the companions, at least a more faithfu
version than that of Celano. Other passages
10 in number are almost certainly take.
x.
lirecT: from the independent writings of Brother
,eo, since they are authenticated by Ubertino
!a Casale who had in his hands the rotuli of
Brother Leo. As to the remainder of the Mirror
fPerfedion^ it is not improbable that here, too,
he compiler drew upon early documents pre-
erved amongst the observant Friars.
We have, then, in this book a genuine wit-
less to the life and mind of St. Francis; and yet
reading it one must remember its pole-
nical purpose and make allowance for the
Dolemical temperament. Even the companions
>f St. Francis, when they wrote, were not free
rom the polemical temper. They wrote with
n eye to certain abuses or departures from the
Drimitive ideal, which they were out to combat.
Consequently, to know "the real St. Francis"
we have need to supplement our knowledge
rom other sources, and we must put ourselves
nto a calmer atmosphere of thought than that
the writers of this book, before we draw
>ur ultimate conclusions.
But there is one value attaching to the
Mirror of Perfection and its kindred "me-
norials" which we owe to the very polemical
mrpose and temper in which they were
written and compiled. They bear witness
xi.
the spiritual fervour with which a large body
of the Franciscans cherished the original spirit
and idealism of their Order. We have heard a w
great deal of "the early decline" of the Francis
cans from their primitive ideals: we hear less
from modern historians of the long continu
ance of the original idealism amongst a large
section of the Friars, from which sprang that
succession of reforms which is the true story of
"The Lady Poverty" throughout the first
three centuries of the Franciscan history.
The Mirror of Perfettwn^ like the Fiorett^
finds its true place in the history of the enduring
endeavour within the Franciscan Order to
maintain the primitive spirit and idealism of
St. Francis. As a witness to that endeavour
it will be cherished by all who see in religion
a constant Struggle of the spirit against thei
seductive "prudence of the flesh."
Fr. CUTHBERT, O.S.F.C.
Xll.
Saint Francis or Assist
HERE BEGINNETH THE MIRROR
OF PERFECTION OF THE STATE
OF A BROTHER MINOR, TO WIT,
OF THE BLESSED FRANCIS.
L How the Blessed THE Blessed Fran-
Francis made answer unto c j s mac ] e three Rules,
the ministers that would to wit the one that
not be bound to the ol> p Innocent did
servance of the Rule that r r i
confirm unto him
he made* . . ^
without a Bull;
afterward he made another, briefer, and this
was lost ; afterward the one that Pope
Honorius did confirm with a Bull, out of
the which Rule were many things taken
out by the ministers against the will of
the Blessed Francis. But after the second
Rule that the Blessed Francis made was
lost, he went up into a certain mountain with
brother Leo of Assisi and brother Bonyzo
of Bologna that he might make another Rule
Saint Francis of Assisi
the which by Christ s teaching he made be
written. But the more part of the ministers
assembling them together unto brother Elias
that was vicar of the Blessed Francis said
unto him : " We have heard that this brother
Francis maketh a new Rule, but we be feared
lest he should make it too harsh, in such sort
that we cannot observe it. Wherefore we
will that thou go unto him and tell him that
we will not be bound unto that Rule. Let
him make it for himself and not for us."
Unto whom brother Elias made answer that
he would not go without them, whereupon
they all of them did go together. And when
brother Elias was nigh the place where the
Blessed Francis was standing, brother Elias
called unto him. Who making answer and
beholding the ministers aforesaid, the Blessed
Francis said : " What would these brethren ? "
And saith brother Elias : " They be ministers
that have heard how thou makest a new Rule,
and being afeard lest thou make it too harsh, do
say and protest that they will not be bound
thereunto. Make it for thyself and not for
them." Thereupon the Blessed Francis did
turn his face towards Heaven, and spake unto
Christ on this wise : " Lord, said I not well
when I told Thee they would not believe
me ? " Then all did hear the voice of Christ
that made answer in the air : " Francis,
2
Saint Francis of Assisi
nought is there of thine own in the Rule, but
whatsoever is therein is all Mine own, and
My will it is that thus shall the Rule be
observed to the letter, to the letter, to the
letter, without gloss, without gloss, without
gloss ! " He added moreover : " How much
the weakness of men can do I know, and what
right good will have I to help them. Let
them therefore that are unwilling to keep it
depart from out the Order ! " Then the
Blessed Francis turned him towards those
brethren and said unto them : " Ye have
heard ! Ye have heard ! Will ye that I should
make you again be spoken unto ? " Then
the ministers, rebuking themselves, went away
confounded and adread.
Saint Francis of Assisi
THE SECOND PART, OF THE
PERFECTION OF POVERTY,
II. And first, in what BROTHER RlCHER
wise the Blessed Francis o f the March, noble
declared the will and in- o f }i nea ge and noble
tention which he had from , hig ho l iness
the beginning to the end ^ he El ^ td
as regards the observance i; . .. . .
of poverty. Francis did love with
great attection, on
a certain day visited the Blessed Francis in
the Bishop s palace of Assisi, and among other
things whereof he spake with him as concern
ing the state of the Religion and the observance
of the Rule, he made question specially of this:
<c Tell me, Father, the intention that thou
hadst from the beginning when thou didst
begin to have brethren, and the intention that
thou now hast and lookest to have even unto
the day of thy death, so as that I may be able
to bear witness to thy intention and to thy
first will and thy last ; to wit, whether we
clergy-brethren that have so many books can
in truth have them, albeit we say that they be
the books of the Religion ? " The Blessd
Francis made answer unto him : " Brother, I
say unto thee that this was and is my first
intention and my last will, if only the brethren
Saint Francis of Assist
would have believed me, that no brother ought
to have anything save his habit as our Rule
alloweth, with girdle and hosen."
But and if any brother may be minded to
say : " Why, then, did not the Blessed Francis
in his own time make his Rule and the poverty
thereby enjoined to be so strictly observed by
the brethren as he said unto brother Richer, nor
commanded it thus to be observed ? " we that
were with him make answer unto this accord
ing as we have heard from his own mouth,
inasmuch as he himself said these and many
other things to the brethren, and even made
many things be written in the Rule, the
which, with earnest prayer and meditation, he
besought of the Lord as being useful to the
Religion, affirming the same to be altogether
according to the will of God ; natheless, after
that he showed them unto the brethren, they
seemed unto them heavy and not to be borne,
seeing that they knew not what things should
come to pass in the Religion after his death.
And for that he was sore afeared of scandal,
both as concerning himself as well as the
brethren, he was not minded to contend with
them, but did unwillingly condescend unto
their wishes, and did excuse himself thereof
before the Lord.
But that the word which the Lord did put
into his mouth for the benefit of the brethren
Saint Francis of Assisi
might not return unto Him empty, he willed
to fulfil the same in himself, that he might
thereby earn his wages of the Lord, and at
the end his spirit did herein find rest and
comfort.
IIL How he made Now, on a time,
answer to a minister that when the Blessed
would fain have books by Francis had come
his licence, and how the back from the ts
ministers without his fe , cer _
knowledge made the / . . ,. ,
clause concerning the pro- tain minister did
hibition of the Gospel be nold talk wlth him
removed from the Rule. as concerning the
clause of poverty,
wishing to know his will and understanding
thereupon, and the more for that a certain
clause was at that time written in the Rule as
concerning the prohibitions of the Holy Gospel,
to wit : "Take nothing for your journey, neither
staves nor scrip, neither bread, neither money,
neither have two coats apiece." And the
Blessed Francis made answer : " I understand
it thus, that the brethren ought to have nothing
save their garments with a cord and hosen as
the Rule saith, and if so be they are com
pelled by necessity, they may wear shoon."
And the minister said unto him : " What
shall I do, that have so many books as that
6
Saint Francis of Assist
they be worth more than forty pound ? " But
this he said for that he was minded to have
them with a clear conscience, inasmuch as it
went against his conscience to have so many
books knowing how straitly the Blessed
Francis did understand the clause of poverty.
And the Blessed Francis saith unto him : " I
will not, nor I ought not, nor 1 cannot go
against my conscience and the fulfilment of
the Holy Scripture that we have professed."
And when he heard this the minister was
sorrowful. But the Blessed Francis seeing
him thus troubled, with much fervency of
spirit spake unto him in the person of all the
brethren : " Ye would fain appear before men
as brethren Minor and be called observants
of the Holy Gospel, but in your works would
ye fain have treasure-chests ! "
Natheless, albeit the ministers knew that
according to the Rule, the brethren were
held to the observance of the Holy Gospel,
yet nevertheless did they make be removed
from the Rule that clause : " Take nothing
for your journey," and the rest, believing that
thereby they should not be held to observe the
fulfilment of the Gospel. Wherefore, when
the Blessed Francis by the Holy Spirit had
knowledge thereof, he spake in the presence
of certain of the brethren, saying : " The
brethren-ministers think to deceive the Lord
Saint Francis of Assisi
and me, yea, albeit they know that all the
brethren be bound to observe the fulfilment
of the Holy Gospel. It is my will that it be
written both at the beginning and at the end
of the Rule that the brethren are bound firmly
to observe the Holy Gospel of Our Lord
Jesus Christ ; and that the brethren may be
evermore without excuse from such time as I
have announced unto them and do announce
those things that for my salvation and theirs
the Lord hath put into my mouth, it is my
will that they do show forth those things in
their works before God, and by His help do
observe them for ever." Hence was it that he
himself did observe all the Holy Gospel to the
letter from the very outset what time he began
to have brethren even unto the day of his
death.
IV. Of the novice that AT another time,
would fain have a psalter moreover, a cer-
by his licence. tain brother ^ a
novice that knew how to read a psalter, albeit
not very well, did nevertheless obtain from the
Minister-General a licence to have one ; yet,
for that he heard how the Blessed Francis was
minded that his brethren should not be desirous
of knowledge and books, he was not content to
have it without the leave of the Blessed Francis.
8
Saint Francis of Assist
What time, therefore, the Blessed Francis
was come to the place where that novice was,
the novice said : " Father, a great solace would
it be to me to have a psalter, but albeit the
General hath allowed it unto me, I would fain
have it with thy knowledge and approval."
Unto whom the Blessed Francis made answer :
"Charles the Emperor, Roland and Oliver,
and all the paladins and puissant men that
were mighty in war, pursuing the paynims
with sore sweat and travail even to the
death, did achieve a victory over them worthy
of all remembrance, and at the last did them
selves die in battle, holy martyrs for the faith
of Christ j yet now be there many that would
fain receive honour and the praise of men for
only telling the tale of the deeds they did. In
like manner, even amongst ourselves many
there be that are fain to receive praise and
honour only by rehearsing and preaching the
works that the saints did themselves achieve ; "
as who should say : " Pay not heed unto
books and knowledge, but unto godly works,
for knowledge puffeth up but charity edifieth."
But after some days, when the Blessed Francis
was sitting at the fire, the same novice did
again speak to him about the psalter. And
the Blessed Francis saith unto him : " After
that thou shalt have had the psalter, thou wilt
be covetous and desire to have a breviary also.
9
Saint Francis of Assist
And after that thou hast gotten a breviary,
thou wilt sit in a chair like a great prelate and
wilt say unto thy brother, Fetch me the
breviary ! "
And while he spake thus the Blessed Francis
with great fervency of spirit did take of the
ashes and set upon his own head, and drawing
his hand in a compass over his head as he that
should wash his head, said : " I a breviary ! I a
breviary ! " And thus many times did he repeat
the same, drawing his hand over his head.
And that brother was amazed and ashamed.
Afterwards the Blessed Francis said unto
him : " Brother, I in likewise have been
tempted to have books, but whilst I still knew
not the will of God therein, I took a book
wherein were written the Lord s Gospels, and
I prayed unto the Lord that in the first open
ing of the book, He would show me of this
matter. And when I had made an end of
praying, on the first opening of the book I
lighted on that Word of the Holy Gospel :
Unto you it is given to know the mysteries
of the Kingdom of God, but unto others in
parables. " And he saith : " So many be
there that do willingly raise them up unto
knowledge, that blessed shall he be that shall
make him barren for the love of our Lord
God."
But after many months had gone by, when
10
Saint Francis of Assisi
the Blessed Francis was at the place of S.
Mary of the Little Portion nigh the cell
beyond the house in the street, the foresaid
brother did again speak to him about the
psalter. To whom the Blessed Francis said :
" Go and do herein as thy minister shall tell
thee." And when he heard this, the brother
began to return by the way that he had come.
But the Blessed Francis bided in the way,
and began to think upon that which he had
said to the brother, and straightway called out
after him saying : " Wait for me, brother,
wait ! " And he went up to him, and saith
unto him : " Turn back with me, brother,
and show me the place where I said unto thee
that thou shouldst do as thy minister should
tell thee in the matter of the psalter." When
therefore they had come as far as the place,
the Blessed Francis bent his knee before that
brother and said : " Mine is the fault, brother,
mine is the fault ! for whosoever will be
brother Minor ought to have nothing save
his habit as the Rule alloweth him and a cord
and hosen, and shoon for them that are com
pelled of manifest necessity." Hence it came
to pass that when sundry of the brethren
came to him to take counsel on matters of
this kind, it was on this wise that he made
answer unto them. And therefore did he
say ofttimes : " As much knowledge hath a
ii
Saint Francis of Assisi
man as he doth work, and a Religious only
preacheth well insomuch as he worketh well,
for the doer is known by his fruits."
V. Of maintaining THE most Blessed
poverty in books, beds, Father taught the
buildings and appliances. brethren as for
books, to look to their inwardness, not to
their price ; to the edification to be found
therein, not to their outward adornments. He
willed that such as they had should be few and
in common, and those such as were suitable to
the necessities of the brethren. In beds and
beddings a plentiful poverty did so abound that"
he which had a tattered rag over his straw did
hold the same for a feather-bed.
He taught his brethren, moreover, to make
their dwellings after a sorry sort, and would
that their cabins should be of wood, not stone,
and these constructed and builded after a mean
pattern ; and not only did he hate arrogance
in their houses, but he did exceedingly abhor
much or choice furnishing thereof. He had
no liking for aught in tables or vessels that
was of worldly seeming, and whereby remem
brance of the world might be recalled ; so as
that all things might point toward poverty as
their end and intent, and all things chant
songs of pilgrimage and exile.
12
Saint Francis of Assisi
VI. How he made ail Now when he was
the brethren go out of a passing through
certain house that was said Bologna, he heard
to belong to the brethren. that ^ house of ^ Q
brethren there had been newly builded. Who
straightway, as soon as he heard how that house
was said to be the house of the brethren, turned
back on his steps and went out of the city, and
straitly commanded that all the brethren
should depart thereout in haste and should in
nowise thenceforward dwell therein. Where
upon all the brethren went out in suchwise
that not even the sick remained therein, but
were turned out with the others, until such
time as Ugolino, Lord Bishop of Ostia and
Legate in Lombardy, did publicly declare the
said house to be his own. And a brother that
lay sick and was turned out of the house at
that time beareth witness to these things and
did write this.
VIL How he was fain to WHEN the time or
destroy a certain house the General Chapter
that the folk of Assisi had drew nigh that was
made at S. Mary of the hdd ey at
Little Portion. g> Mt ,y J # the
Little Portion, the folk of Assisi consider
ing that the brethren day by day did multiply,
and that all of them every year did there
13
Saint Francis of Assist
assemble together, forasmuch as they had not
but one small cell thatched with straw whereof
the walls were of wattle and dab, did hold
their council, and within a few days, in much
haste and with the greatest devotion did make
there a great house builded of stones and
mortar, without the consent of the Blessed
Francis and in his absence. And when the
Blessed Francis returned from a certain pro
vince and came thither to the Chapter, he
marvelled greatly of the house that there was
builded, and fearing lest by occasion of this
house that other brothers in the places wherein
they sojourned or might thereafter sojourn
should in like fashion cause great houses to be
made, and for that he willed this place should
be the pattern and example of all other places
of the Order, or ever the Chapter were ended,
he went up on to the roof of the house and
bade the brethren go up also, and along with
the brethren themselves did begin to throw
down to the ground the tiles wherewith the
house was roofed, being minded to destroy the
same even to the foundations. But certain
soldiers of Assisi that were there to guard the
place by reason of the number of burgesses
that had come together to look on at the
Chapter of the brethren, seeing how the
Blessed Francis with the other brethren was
minded to batter the house to pieces, straight-
14
Saint Francis of Assisi
way went unto him and said to him : "Bro
ther, this house belongeth to the Community
of Assisi, and we be here on behalf of the
Community. Wherefore we warn thee that
thou destroy not this house which is ours."
Upon hearing this, the Blessed Francis said
unto them : " If so be, then, that it is yours,
no will have I to touch it." And forthwith
he and the other brethren came down there
from. Wherefore from that time forward the
people of the city of Assisi made a by-law that
whosoever should be high-bailiff of the city
should be bound to make it be repaired. And
every year for a long time thereafter was this
statute observed.
VIIL How he chided his AT another time,
vicar for that he caused be moreover, the vicar
made there a little house o f tne Blessed Fran-
for saying the Office, ds began to make
build in the same place a small house
wherein the brethren might take their rest
and say their Hours, for on account of
the multitude of brethren that came unto
that place, the brethren had not where to
say the Office. For all the brethren of
the Order did come together in that place,
for that none was received into the Order save
onl there. And when the house was now
Saint Francis of Assist
already completed, the Blessed Francis re
turned to that place, and as he was abiding
in his cell he heard talking of labourers there,
and calling his companion, he asked what the
brethren were at work upon. To whom the
companion related all things as they were.
But straightway he made his vicar be called,
and saith unto him: "Brother, this place is
the pattern and example of the whole Reli
gion, and I would therefore that the brethren
of this place should be the first to suffer tribu
lation and discomfort for the love of our Lord
God, and that the other brethren which shall
come hither shall carry back the good example
of poverty to their own places ; whereas if
these should have their comforts in full, those
others also might take example of building in
their own places, saying, c In this place of the
Blessed Mary of the Little Portion which is
the foremost place of the Order, are such and
so great buildings made, wherefore may we
also build the like in our own places. "
IX, How the Blessed A CERTAIN brother,
Francis would not stay in right spiritual and
a cell curiously wrought, greatly familiar with
or if it were said to be his the Blessed Francis
own, ,. . , .
did cause be made
in the hermitage wherein he sojourned a
16
Saint Francis of Assist
certain cell, a little distance away, wherein
the Blessed Francis might stay and pray
whensoever he should come thither. But
when the Blessed Francis came to that place,
the brother led him to the cell. To whom
said the Blessed Francis: "Too fair is this
cell ! " albeit it were only of wood, shapen
with adze and hatchet. "If therefore, thou
wouldst that I should abide there, let be
made for it a covering within and without
of wattles and branches of trees." For the
sorrier seeming was house or cell, the more
ij gladly did he sojourn therein. Which when
the brother had done, the Blessed Francis
I! abode there several days. But on a certain
day, when he had gone out of that cell, a
1 certain brother went to look thereat, and
jj afterwards came to the place where the
|j Blessed Francis was. And when the Blessed
Francis saw him, he said unto him : " Whence
comest thou, brother ? " And he saith,
" From thy cell." And the Blessed Francis
said unto him : " For that thou hast said it is
my cell, henceforward another shall stay
therein and not I." For we that were with
him have often heard him saying that word :
" Foxes have holes and the birds of the air-
have nests, but the Son of Man hath not
where to lay His head." And, again, he would
say : " When Our Lord withdrew Him into
17 B
Saint Francis of Assist
the wilderness and fasted forty days and forty
nights, He had no cell nor house made there,
but abode throughout on a stone of the
mountains." Wherefore by His ensample
would he never have house nor cell that
should be called his own, nor none such would
he never have made at all. If it were that
at any time he had said to the brethren :
" Go and make ready such or such a cell," yet
was he never minded thereafter to abide in it
on account of that word of the Holy Gospel :
" Take no thought for your life, what ye
shall eat ; neither for the body, what ye shall
put on." For even about the time of his
death he made be written in his will that all -
the cells and houses of the brethren should be
of stud and mud only, the better to maintain
poverty and humility.
X. Of the manner of ON a time when
taking places in cities and h e was at Siena for
building therein according the i n fi rm ity of his
to the intention o the Doctor Bona-
Blessed Francis. v entura, that had
given the brethren land whereon a place
was builded, said unto him : " Father, how
seemeth it unto thee of this place ? " ^ And
the Blessed Francis saith unto him : " Wouldst
thou that I tell thee how the places of the
18
Saint Francis of Assist
brethren ought to be builded ? " He made
answer : " Yea, Father." And the Blessed
Francis said : " When the brethren go to
any city where they have no place, and find
any man willing to give them so much land,
as that they may build them a place and have
therein a garden and all things necessary,
they ought to consider first of all how much
land will be enow for them, looking always
to the poverty and the good ensample that in
all things we are bound to show forth."
But this he said, for that he was minded
the brethren should in no wise, neither in
houses, nor churches, nor gardens, nor in
nought else whereof they had the use, trespass
beyond the bounds of poverty, nor hold no
places whatsoever by right of ownership, but
should sojourn therein as pilgrims and
strangers ; wherefore he would not that the
brethren should be lodged together in the
places in large numbers, for that it seemed to
him a hard thing for poverty to be observed
in a great multitude. And this was his
intention from the beginning of his con
version, even to the end, that poverty should
in all things be throughly observed.
"When, therefore, the brethren have con
sidered the land necessary for the place, they
ought to go to the Bishop of the city and say
unto him : * Such an one is fain to give us so
Saint Francis of Assisi
much land for the love of God and for the
salvation of his soul, to the end that we may
build us a place therein, wherefore, first of
all, we have recourse to you as father and lord
of souls unto all the flock committed unto
you, and of all our brethren that shall sojourn
in this place, inasmuch as we desire to build
therein with God s blessing and yours. "
But this he said for that the harvest of
souls which the brethren would fain garner,
they do the better gather in through being at
peace with the clergy, winning them over
even as the people, rather than by scandalising
them, albeit they might thereby win over the
people. He saith, moreover : " The Lord
hath called us unto the succour of His faith
and of the clergy and prelates of the Holy
Roman Church. And therefore are we
bound, as far as possible, always to love them
and honour and reverence them. For we be
called brethren Minor, for that, as in name, so
in ensample, we ought to be humble beyond
other men of this world. And seeing that
from the beginning of my conversion the
Lord hath put His word into the mouth of
the Bishop of Assisi, that he should give me
counsel, and be of good comfort unto me in
the service of Christ ; on this account, and on
account of many other things excellent that
I do pay regard unto in the Prelates, I am
20
Saint Francis of Assisi
fain to love and venerate, not the Bishops
alone, but the poorer clergy also, and to hold
them for my lords.
"Thereafter, when they have received a
blessing from the Bishop, let them go and
make a great trench be driven around the
compass of the land they have received for
building the place, and thereby let them set a
good hedge for a wall, as a mark of holy
poverty and humility. After that, let them
make be builded poor houses of mud and stud,
and sundry little cells, wherein at times the
brethren may pray and work for greater
decency and for the avoiding of sloth. And
let them make build little churches, for they
ought not to have great churches builded,
neither for the sake of preaching to the people
nor upon none other occasion, for the humility
is the greater and the ensample the better
when they go to other churches to preach.
And if at any time prelates and clerics, either
regular or secular, shall come unto their
places, the sorry houses, the little cells, and
small churches will preach to them, and more
will they be edified by these things than they
would be by words." Moreover, saith he,
"Many a time do the brethren have great
buildings made, breaking thereby our holy
poverty, giving occasion of mischievous
whispers, and setting a bad ensample unto
21
Saint Francis of Asslsi
many, whensoever by reason of the offer of a
better or holier place, or the object of gather
ing together a greater congregation of folk,
they do leave their old places and buildings
through covetousness and avarice, and destroy
them to make others great and excessive, so
that they which did there give alms, and
others that see these things are scandalised
and troubled thereat. For these reasons it is
better for the brethren to make their buildings
little and sorry, observing their profession and
giving a good ensample to their neighbours,
than for them to act against their promise
and give to others an evil ensample. For if
it were that the brethren should still build
their houses of the sorriest, albeit they should
leave a sorry site when a site more decent
were offered, the scandal would be the less.
XL How the brethren, WHEN the Blessed
and more notably they Francis made ordi-
that had authority and nance that the
they that had most of churches of the
human learning were brethren should be
against the Blessed Fran- and their
cis as to making the
places and dwelling places Bouses builded only
sorry , of stud and mud in
to ken of holy poverty
and humility, he, being fain to set this pattern
22
Saint Francis of Assist
first in the place of S. Mary of the Little Por
tion, and to have the houses therein for the most
part put together of stud and mud so that it might
be an everlasting memorial to all the brethren
present and future for that it was the first and
chief place of the whole Order, certain brethren
were against him in this, saying that in certain
provinces wood was more costly than stone,
so that it seemed them not good to make the
houses of stud and mud. But the Blessed
Francis was not minded to contend with them,
and the more for that he was nigh unto death
and sore sick. Wherefore at that time he
made be written in his will : " Let the breth
ren take heed that they accept not for their
own the churches, dwelling-places, and other
things that may be builded for them save only
as holy poverty beseemeth, but be lodged
therein as pilgrims and strangers." But we
that were with him when he wrote the Rule
and well-nigh all the rest of his writings do
bear witness that he made be written in the
Rule and his other writings many things
wherein a number of the brethren, and spe
cially those of us that were in authority and had
most of human learning, were against him,
the which would to-day be greatly useful and
necessary to the whole Religion ; yet natheless,
for that he sorely feared a scandal, he conde
scended even aainst his own will to the
Saint Francis of Assisi
of the brethren. Nevertheless this speech was
often on his lips : " Woe unto those brethren
that set them against me in this matter which
I know of a certainty to be of the will of
God for the greater usefulness and need of the
whole Religion, albeit I unwillingly conde
scend unto their will." Whence he did often
times say unto us his companions : " Herein
is my grief and my affliction, that in these
things which with much travail of prayer and
meditation I obtain of God through His
mercy for the welfare present and future of
the whole Religion, and am by Himself certi
fied that they be in accordance with His will,
yet certain of the brethren on the authority of
their own knowledge and false forethought do
go against me and make them void, saying,
Such and such things are to be kept and
observed, and such others not. "
XII. How he held it a THE Blessed Fran-
theft to obtain alms or to c i swas often wont to
make use thereof beyond these words untQ
what is necessary. ^ brethren:
"Never was I a thief in the matter of alms,
neither in obtaining the same, nor in making
use of them beyond what was necessary.
Always have I received less than I might
lest the other needy ones should be cheated of
24
Saint Francis of Assist
their portion, for to do the contrary would
have been robbery."
XIIL How Christ said WHENthe brethren-
tmto him that He would minister would per-
not the brethren should suade hjm that he
"ould allow the
brethren to have
something in common at least so that a multi
tude so great should have that to which they
might have recourse, the Blessed Francis in
prayer did call upon Christ and take counsel
with Him hereupon. Who forthwith made
answer, saying : " I will take away all things
in special and in common ; seeing that as for
this family always will I be ready to make
provision, howsoever it may increase, and
evermore will I cherish it so long as it shall
hope in Me."
XIV. Of his execration FRANCIS, true friend
of money, and in what anc j imitator of
wise he punished a brother Christ despising
perfectly all things
that are of this world, did above all execrate
money, and both by word and ensample did
urge his brethren to flee therefrom as from
the devil. For this was the policy given
Saint Francis of Assisi
to the brethren, that money should hold in
their affections no higher place than dung.
Now it so befell one day that a certain
layman, did enter into the church of the
Blessed Mary of the Little Portion to pray,
and by way of oblation did place a piece
of money within the cross. When he
had gone his way, a certain brother did
foolishly take the piece in his hand and
throw it into the locker. But when this was
told to the Blessed Francis, the brother,
seeing that he had been caught, straightway
betook him to pardon, and prostrating himself
on the ground did proffer him unto the
stripes.
The Blessed Francis reasoned with him
and did chide him right bitterly for that he
had touched the piece of money, and com
manded him to pick up the piece out of the
locker with his mouth and carry it beyond
the hedge of the place, and set it with his
own mouth on the dung of an ass. All they
that did see and hear the same were sore
stricken with fear, and thenceforward did
despise money the more for that it had been
made of no more account than the dung of an
ass, and every day were they encouraged by
new ensamples to despise it utterly.
Saint Francis of Assisi
XV. Of a voiding codd* THIS man, endued
ling, and of the multiplica- w ith virtue from on
tion of habits, and of high, did make
having patience in him warm rat her
times of need, from within by
the divine, than from without by the bodily
garment. He did detest that any in the
Order should go clad in threefold garments,
or make use of clothing more delicate than was
needful. For he maintained that to make a
need of that which is a need pointed out by
the will only, and not by reason, is the token
of a quenched spirit. "When the spirit,"
saith he, " is lukewarm, and little by little
cooling away from grace, it cannot be but
that flesh and blood will seek after the things
that are their own." He said, moreover :
" For what remaineth when the soul is with
out spiritual delights, but for the flesh to turn
back to its own delights ? Then the animal
appetite is pleaded in excuse as a point of
necessity ; then the sense of the flesh doth
shape the conscience.
" If a true necessity lieth upon my brother,
and he forthwith hasteneth to satisfy the
same, what reward shall he receive ? for an
opportunity of deserving a reward hath befallen
him, but he hath taken pains to prove that he
was loath so to do. For not to bear indi-
Saint Francis of Assist
gences patiently is nought else but to seek
to return into Egypt."
Lastly, he would that the brethren on no
account should have more than two habits,
but these he did allow to be lined with pieces
sewn on. Choice broadcloths, he said, were
to be abhorred, and full bitingly would he
flout them that thwarted him herein ; and
that he might spur such by his own ensample,
he did always sew coarse sackcloth upon his
habit. Whence even at his death he bade his
burial- habit be covered with sackcloth. How-
beit, those brethren whom sickness or other
necessity did compel, did put on another soft
habit underneath, next the skin ; but in such-
wise as that without-doors coarseness and
meanness should be observed in their outward
seeming. For with sore sorrow was he wont
to say : " Presently will rigour be so greatly
relaxed, and lukewarmness will so far prevail,
as that the sons of a father that was a beggar
will not be ashamed even to wear scarlet cloth,
with only a change of colour."
XVI That he would Now, when the
not satisfy his body with Blessed Francis was
aught whereof he thought sojourning at the
that other brethren were herm itage of S.
in want, -^ i L
JMeuthenus over
against Rieti, by reason of the great cold he
28
Saint Francis of Assist
did line his own habit and the habit of his
companion Richer with sundry pieces of cloth
so that thereby his body began to be some
little comforted, for he never wore but one
habit, to wit, the one he wore every day. And
a little after, when he was coming back from
prayer, with great gladness he said to his
companion : " Me it behoveth be the pattern
and example of all the brethren, wherefore,
albeit that it is necessary for my body to have
my habit lined, yet it is meet that I take
thought for others my brethren unto whom
the same thing is a necessity, but who haply
neither have it nor can have it. Whence
behoveth me consider them, so that I may
suffer the necessities which they themselves
suffer, so that, when they see this in me,
they may bear their own with the greater
patience."
But what and how great were the necessities
that he denied his body to the intent that he
might give a good ensample to the brethren,
and that they might bear their own needs
more willingly, we that were with him can
never set forth in words nor in writing. For
after that the brethren began to be multiplied
he made it his highest and chiefest study to
teach the brethren the things that they had to
do or to avoid rather by his deeds than by his
words.
Saint Francis oi Assisi
XVII. That he was ONCE on a time,
ashamed to see any man w hen he had met
poorer than himself, acertainneedy
man, taking note of his poverty, he said
unto his companion : " That man s poverty
doth imply great shame unto us, and doth
sorely rebuke our poverty, for the greatest
shame is it to me whensoever I find one
poorer than myself, seeing that I have chosen
holy poverty for my Lady and for my spiritual
and bodily riches, and this voice hath been
bruited abroad throughout the world, to wit,
that I have professed poverty before God and
before men."
XVHI.-HOW he did WHEN the Blessed
induce and teach the Francis began to
first brethren to go forth haye brethren, so
foralms * mightily was he
pleased with their conversion, and that the Lord
had given him so goodly acompany, and so greatly
did he love and reverence them, that he did
not tell them to go forth for alms. More
especially for that it seemed unto him that
they were ashamed to go, wherefore, that he
might spare their shame, he himself did every
day go forth for alms alone. And when he
was overwearied with this toil, especially for
that he had been delicately nurtured in the
3
Saint Francis of Assisi
world, and was feeble of bodily complexion,
and had been yet more enfeebled by exceeding
abstinence and affliction, and perceiving that
he was not able to endure so heavy travail
alone, and that they had been called to this
work, albeit they were ashamed to do it, for
that as yet they knew not fully, neither had
they discretion enough to say : " We also are
willing to go for alms." Wherefore he said
unto them : " My dearest brethren and little
children, be ye not ashamed to go forth for
alms, for the Lord did make Him poor in this
world for us, and by His ensample have we
made choice of the truest poverty. For this
is our heritage that our Lord Jesus Christ did
achieve and hath left unto us and unto all that
fain would live in holy poverty according to His
ensample. Of a truth I tell you that many
of the holier and nobler sort of this world shall
come unto this congregation, and shall hold it
for high honour and grace to go forth for alms.
Go ye forth, therefore, in confidence and with a
gladsome heart for alms with God s blessing,
and more willingly and gladly ought ye to go for
alms than he that for a single piece of money
did offer an hundred pence, seeing that unto
them from whom ye shall ask an alms ye do
offer the love of God, saying : c For the love
of God do us an alms, in comparison where
with heaven and earth are nought."
Saint Francis of Assist
And, for that the brethren were few, he
was not able to send them forth two and two,
wherefore he sent each one by himself to go
among the castles and towns. And it came
to pass, when they returned with such alms
as they had found, that each did show to the
Blessed Francis the alms that he had gathered.
And one would say unto another : " I have
gathered more alms than thou." Afid the
Blessed Francis did rejoice hereof beholding
them so blithe and joyous. And thencefor
ward did each right gladly ask leave to go
forth for alms.
XIX, That he would ABOUT the same
not the brethren should t i mC) wrien the
be anxious to make Blessed Francis was
prov^on for to- with uchb h
as he then had,
in so great poverty did he live with them
that in all things and throughout all they did
observe the Holy Gospel to the letter, to wit,
from the day that the Lord revealed unto him
that he and his brethren ought to live accord
ing to the pattern of the Holy Gospel.
Wherefore he forbade the brother that did
the cooking for the brethren to put the herbs
into hot water of an evening, as is the wont,
when he was to give them the brethren to eat
3*
Saint Francis of Assisi
on the day following, so that that they might
observe that word of the Holy Gospel, " Take
no thought for the morrow." And so that
brother did put off setting them to be sodden
until after matins, when the day was already
begun whereon they should be eaten. Where
fore for a long time many brethren in many
places did observe the same, having no mind
to gather or receive more alms than were
necessary for one day, more especially in the
cities.
XX, How he did rebuke \VHEN a certain
by word and example minister of the
those brethren that had brethren had come
made ready the table tQ the Blessed
sumptuously on the day of ^ r
the Lord s Nativity. Francis for the
purpose of cele
brating with him the feast of the Lord s
nativity at the place of the brethren of Rieti,
the brethren, by occasion of the minister and
the feast, had set out the tables somewhat
worshipfully and curiously on the very day of
the Nativity, spreading napkins fair and
white, with glass vessels thereupon. The
Blessed Francis, coming down from his cell
to eat, saw the tables raised on a dais and
curiously set out. Thereupon he went
straightway secretly and took the staff and
33 c
Saint Francis of Assist
scrip of a certain poor man that had come
that day, 1 and, calling one of his companions
in a whisper, he went forth of the door with
out the brethren of the house knowing it.
Howbeit, the companion abided within nigh
the door. In the meanwhile the brethren came
in to meat, for the Blessed Francis had bidden
the brethren never to wait for him when he
came not forthwith at the hour of eating
together. And, after that he had stood a little
space without, he knocked at the door, and
forthwith his companion opened unto him,
and, coming in with the scrip on his back and
the staff in his hand, he went to the door of
the house, wherein the brethren were eating,
together, as a pilgrim and a beggar, and cried
out, saying : " For the love of our Lord God
give an alms to this poor sick pilgrim ! " But
the minister and the rest of the brethren did
know him again at once, and the minister
made answer unto him : " Brother, we also
be poor, and for that we be many, the alms
that we have be necessary unto us, but for the
love of the Lord of whom thou hast spoken,
enter into the house, and we will give thee of
the alms that the Lord hath given unto us ! "
And when he had come in, and was standing
before the table of the brethren, the minister
gave him a platter, wherein he did eat, and of
the bread in like manner. And, receiving the
34
Saint Francis of Assisi
same, he sate humbly by the fire, while the
brethren did sit at the table. Then he sighed
and said to the brethren : " When I beheld
the table honourably and curiously made ready,
I bethought me that it was not the table of
poor Religious that every day do go from door
to door for alms, for, my best beloved, unto us
rather is it seemly to follow the ensample of
the humility and poverty of Christ even more
than unto other Religious, forasmuch as unto
this have we been called and made profession
thereof before God and before men. Whence
meseemeth it only right that I should sit as a
brother Minor, for the festivals of the Lord
and of other saints be more honoured by the
need and poverty whereby the saints them
selves did win to heaven, than by the curious-
ness and superfluity whereby the soul is
withdrawn away from Heaven." Hereat
were the brethren ashamed, bethinking them
that what he had said was very sooth. And
certain of them began to weep sore, beholding
how he sat upon the ground, and that he was
fain to correct and teach them in such holy
and simple wise. He admonished the brethren,
moreover, that they should have their tables
so humble and cleanly as that they of this
world might be edified thereby, and if it
should so befall that any poor man should be
invited by the brethren, he might sit along
35
Saint Francis of Assist
with them as an equal, and not, Jike a beggar,
on the ground, while the brethren sate at the
high table.
XXL How the Lord THE Lord Bishop of
Bishop of Ostia wept and Qstia that was after-
was edified at the poverty war d s p ope Gregory,
of the brethren. when he came tQ the
Chapter of the brethren at S. Mary of the
Little Portion, went into the house to look at
the brethren s dormitory with a number of
soldiers and clerics, and, when he saw that the
brethren lay on the ground and had nought
under them but a little straw and some bolsters, *-
all tattered and torn as it were, and no pillows,
he began to weep sore before them all, saying:
" Look you here where the brethren sleep,
while we wretched ones do make use of so
many superfluities ! How will it be with us for
this ? " Whereby he himself and all the rest
were much edified. Moreover, no table saw
he there, for that in that place the brethren
did eat together on the ground.
Saint Francis of Assisi
XXIL How the soldiers WHEN the Blessed
found things necessary by Francis was at the
asking an alms from door Jace at fiagnara
to door according to the ab h f f
counsel of the Blessed XT , .
Francis, Nocera, his feet
began to swell
grievously by reason of the ailment of a dropsy,
and sore sick was he there. But when the men
of Assisi heard thereof, certain soldiers came in
haste to that place that they might bring him to
Assisi, fearing lest in case he should die there,
others might have his most holy body. But
whilst they were bringing him on the way,
they rested in a certain walled town within the
lordship of Assisi to dine there, and the Blessed
Francis lay quiet in the house of a certain
poor man that willingly did take him in, while
the soldiers went about the town to buy them
necessaries, the which howbeit they found not.
Wherefore they came back to the Blessed
Francis, saying unto him as it were in jest :
"Brother, needs must you give us some of
your alms, for here can we have nought to
eat." And the Blessed Francis with great
fervour of spirit saith unto them : " The
reason wherefore ye have found nought is that
ye put your trust in your flies and your deniers "
for he was wont to call money " flies "
" and not in God. Now turn ye back
to the houses among the which ye went seek-
37
Saint Francis of Assisi
Ing to buy, and setting aside all shamefast-
ness, ask an alms there for the love of the
Lord God, and by the inspiration of the Holy
Spirit they will give unto you abundantly."
They went therefore and asked an alms as
he had told them and with much gladness and
abundance did they of whom the alms were
asked give of such things as they had. And
knowing that this by miracle had befallen
them, with great joy did they return unto the
Blessed Francis praising the Lord.
Thus, verily, did the Blessed Francis hold
it a high nobility both as towards God and as
towards the world to seek alms for the love of
the Lord God, for that all things which the
Heavenly Father did create for the use of man
on account of His love for His well-beloved
Son, were freely granted by way of alms after
sin, alike to the worthy and the unworthy.
For he said that the servant of God ought
more willingly and joyfully to ask an alms for
the love of the Lord God, than he that
of his largesse and courtesy should go about
saying : " Whosoever shall give me such a
piece of money as is worth but a single penny
unto him will I give a thousand marks of
gold," forasmuch as the servant of God in
asking an alms doth offer the love of God
unto them of whom he asketh, in comparison
wherewith all things that are in heaven and in
38
Saint Francis of Assist
earth be as nought. Whence before such
time as the brethren were multiplied, and even
after that they were multiplied, when they
went about the world preaching and were
invited by any howsoever noble and rich, to eat
and to lodge with him, always at the hour
of eating they went for alms or ever they
went into his house, as a good ensample to the
brethren and for the dignity of our Lady
Poverty. And many a time did he say unto
him that did invite him that he would not go,
making answer thus unto him : " I am fain
not to lay aside my royal dignity and heritage,
and my profession and that of my brethren,
to wit, to go for alms from door to door." And
sometimes he that had invited him would go
with him, and such alms as the Blessed
Francis did obtain would he keep as relics on
account of his devotion. He that wrote these
things saw this many a time and doth hereby
bear witness thereof.
XXIIL How he went lot ON a time when the
alms before he would go Blessed Francis was
in to the Cardinal s v i s i t i ng t h e Lord
table * Bishop of Ostia
that was afterward Pope Gregory, at the
hour of eating together he went as it
were by stealth from door to door for
39
Saint Francis of Assisi
alms, and when he was come back the
Lord Bishop of Ostia had already gone in
to meat with a number of knights and
nobles. But the Blessed Francis drawing
nigh the table did set thereon before the
Cardinal such alms as he had found and took
his seat next him at the table, for he would
that the Blessed Francis should always sit
anigh him. And the Cardinal was thereby
some little ashamed that he should have gone
for alms and set them on the table, but as at
that time he said nought unto him on account
of them that were there present seated. And
when he had eaten some little, the Blessed
Francis took of his alms and sent a morsel
thereof to each of the knights and the chap
lains of my Lord Cardinal on behalf of our
Lord God. Who all receiving the same with
great gladness and devotion, did spread out their
hoods and cassocks and some did eat thereof
and some did set it aside out of devotion to
him. But my Lord Cardinal of Ostia did
greatly rejoice thereat on account of their
devotion and most of all for that those alms
were not of wheaten bread.
After meat, he went into his chamber,
taking with him the Blessed Francis, and
lifting up his arms did embrace the Blessed
Francis with exceeding gladness and rejoicing,
saying unto him : " O most simple brother
40
Saint Francis of Assisi
mine, wherefore hast thou done me shame this
day, insomuch as that coming to my house,
which is the house of the brethren, thou
shouldst go forth for alms ? "
The Blessed Francis made answer : a Verily,
my Lord, I have shown thee the greatest honour,
for that when a liege subject doth his duty and
fulfilleth his obedience unto his lord, he doth
honour unto his lord, and," saith he, " meet it
is that I be the pattern and ensample of your
poor men, and most of all for that I know in
this religion of the brotherhood there are and
will be brethren Minor in name and in work
that for the love of the Lord God and for the
anointing of the Holy Spirit who shall teach
them in all things shall humble themselves
to all humility and subjection and service of
their brethren. Some, moreover, there are
and will be among them that either held back
by shame or by reason of evil habit disdain and
will disdain to humiliate and lower themselves
by going forth for alms and to do other menial
works, wherefore it is meet that I teach by
my work them that are and shall be of the
religion, so as that in this world and in the
world to come they may be without excuse
before God. When, therefore, I am sojourn
ing with you that are our Lord and Pope, or
with other worshipful and rich men of the
world that for the love of our Lord God do
41
Saint Francis of Assist
not only receive me with much devotion into
your houses, but do even compel me to come
in, I am fain not to be ashamed of going forth
for alms, nay, rather, am I fain to have and to
hold this as towards God for the highest
nobility and a royal dignity, and in honour of
Him who being Lord of all was willing for
our sakes to become servant of all, and who
when He was rich and glorious in His majesty
did come as one poor and despised in our
humility. Whence I desire that the brethren,
both they that now are and they that shall
be hereafter, should know that I hold it for a
greater consolation both of soul and body when
I sit at the sorry table of the brethren, and *-
behold before me the sorry alms that are
obtained from door to door for the love of our
Lord God, than when I sit at your board or
that of other lords plentifully laid out with
divers dainty meats. For the bread of alms
is holy bread that the praise and love of the
Lord God doth hallow, forasmuch as whenso
ever a brother goeth forth for alms, he ought
first of all to say : c Praised and blessed be
God our Lord. Afterwards he ought to
say : c Do us an alms for the love of our
Lord God! "
And by the setting forth of words of this
kind by the Blessed Francis was the Cardinal
greatly edified, and he saith unto him, " My
42
Saint Francis of Assist
son, do whatsoever is right in thine own eyes,
forasmuch as God is with thee and thou art
with Him."
For the will of the Blessed Francis was
thus, and many a time he said that a brother
ought not to stand long upon going forth
for alms on account of the great merit thereof
and lest he should be shamed to go forth
afterwards. Yea, the more noble and better
off in the world was the brother, by so much
the more was he rejoiced and edined as con
cerning him when he went forth for alms
and did other menial works that the brethren
did as at that time.
XXIV, Of the brother AT the outset of the
that did neither pray Religion, when the
nor work, but did eat brethren sojourned
wel1 at Rivo Torto, near
Assisi, among them was a .certain brother
that did hardly pray at all, and never did any
work. He would not go forth for alms, but
he did eat bravely. Perceiving these things,
the Blessed Francis knew by the Holy Spirit
that he was a carnal man, and saith he unto
him : " Go thy ways, brother fly, forasmuch
as thou art minded to devour the labour of thy
brethren and to be slothful in the work of
God, even as the idle drone and barren that
43
Saint Francis of Assisi
winneth nought nor laboureth, but devoureth
the winning and the travail of the good bees."
And so he went his way, and, for that he was
carnal, he neither sought for nor found
mercy.
XXV. How he went AT another time,
forth with fervour to a a ] so while the
certain poor man that Blessed Frands wag
went with alms praising sojourning at g
Mary of the Little
Portion, a certain poor man, right spiritual,
came by the highway as he returned from
Assisi, whither he had gone for alms, and**
he went along praising God in a loud
voice with great gladness. But when he
came nigh the church of the Blessed Mary,
the Blessed Francis heard him, and forthwith
went out to him with exceeding great fervour
and joy, meeting him in the way, and with
much gladness kissing his shoulder, whereon
he bore the wallet with his alms. And he
took the wallet from his shoulder and set it
on his own shoulder, and so carried the same
into the house of the brethren, and said before
the brethren : " Thus would I that my brother
should go and return with alms, glad and
joyful and praising God."
Saint Francis of Assist
XXVI, How it was re- ON a certain occa-
vealed unto him of the s j on t he Blessed
Lord that they should be F ranc i s sa id . "The
called Friars Minor, to Rdi ion and * Hfe of
wit, Lesser Brethren, and , P . **.
should announce peace the brethren Minor
and salvation, 1S a certain little
flock that the Son or
God in this last hour did ask of His Heavenly
Father, saying : c Father, I would that Thou
shouldst make and give Me a new people and
an humble in this last hour, that in humilityand
poverty shall be unlike unto all that have gone
before them, and shall be content to have Me
only. And the Father hearkeneth unto His
Son, and saith : c My Son, this that Thou
hast asked of Me is done. "
Whence the Blessed Francis said that God
did therefore will and reveal unto him that
they should be called brethren Minor, for that
they be the people poor and humble whom the
Son of God did ask of His Father, of the
which people the Son of God Himself saith
in the Gospel : " Fear not, little flock, for it
is your Father s good pleasure to give you the
kingdom." And again : " Inasmuch as ye
have done it unto one of the least of these
My brethren, ye have done it unto Me." And
albeit the Lord did understand this of all poor
men spiritual, yet did he hereby more espe
cially foretell the Religion of the brethren
45
Saint Francis of Assist
Minor that should come thereafter in His
Church.
Wherefore, according as it was revealed
unto the Blessed Francis that the Religion
ought to be called of the brethren Minor, so
did he make the same be written in the first
Rule that he did lay before Pope Innocent III.,
who did approve and grant it, and afterwards
did announce in Consistory to all. In like
wise the Lord did reveal to him the salutation
that the brethren ought to say, even as he made
be written in his will, saying : " The Lord
revealed unto me that I ought to say by way
of salutation : c The Lord give thee peace ! ;
Whence, in the beginning of the Religion,
when he went with a certain brother that was
one of the twelve first, the brother saluted
men and women by the way and them that
were in the fields, saying : " The Lord give
ye peace : " And, for that men had not heard
such a salutation made aforetime by any Reli
gious, they did much marvel thereof. Yea,
some there were that said unto them with
indignation : " What meaneth this same salu
tation of yours ? " So that the brother did
begin thereof to be ashamed, and on this
account said unto the Blessed Francis : " Give
me leave to say another salutation." And the
Blessed Francis saith unto him : " Let them
talk, for they perceive not the things that are
46
Saint Francis of Assist
of God. Natheless, be not ashamed, forasmuch
as nobles and princes of this world shall mani
fest their reverence toward thee and other of
the brethren by reason of this salutation. For
no great thing is it, and if the Lord be minded
to have a new people and a small, peculiar and
unlike all that went before in life and in
words, that shall be content to have Himself
only, that is sweeter than any ! "
THE THIRD PART, OF CHARITY
AND COMPASSION AND CONDE
SCENSION TO ONE S NEIGHBOUR,
XXVII. And, first, how ON a time when the
he condescended to a Blessed Francis
brother that was dying of began to have
hunger eating with him bre & thren and was
and admonishing the . . . ,
brethren that they should sojourning with
do penance discreetly. them at Rlvo Torto,
near Assisi, it so fell
out on a certain night, while all the brethren
were asleep about the middle of the night, that
one of the brethren cried out saying : " I am
dying ! I am dying ! " Whereupon all the
brethren did awake from sleep amazed and
sore afeard. And, rising up, the Blessed
Francis said : " Arise, brethren, and kindle
47
Saint Francis of Assist
the light ! " And when the light was kindled
he said : " Who is he that said * I am dying ?"
And the brother made answer: "I am he."
And he saith unto him: "What aileth thee,
brother? How art thou dying?" But he
saith : "I am dying of hunger."
Then the Blessed Francis forthwith had a
table laid out, and, as a man full of charity
and discretion, did eat with him lest he should
be ashamed to eat alone ; and by his will, all
the other brethren did eat with him likewise.
For that brother and all the rest were newly
converted to the Lord, and did afflict their
bodies beyond measure. And after that they
had eaten together, the Blessed Francis said"
unto the rest of the brethren: "My best
beloved, I say unto you that each one of you
ought to pay heed unto his own nature, for,
albeit that some one of you may be strong enow
to be sustained by less food than other some, yet
it is my will that he which needeth more food
shall not be bound to imitate that other herein,
but, paying heed to his own nature, let him
allow his body the necessity thereof, in such
sort that he may be enough strong to serve
the spirit. For, whereas we be held to beware
of superfluity of food, the which is a hindrance
both to the body and the soul, so likewise, and
even more, ought we to beware of too great
abstinence, seeing that the Lord willeth mercy
48
Saint Francis of Assisi
and not sacrifice." Moreover, saith he : "My
best beloved brethren, this that I have done,
to wit, that out of charity toward my brother,
we have eaten together equally with him, lest
he should be ashamed to eat alone, it was
rather necessity and charity that compelled me
so to do ; but I say unto you that it is not my
will hereafter to do the like, forasmuch as it
would be neither religious nor becoming ; but
my will it is, and I do enjoin you that each
one of the brethren do, according to our
poverty, satisfy the needs of his body as may
be necessary for him."
For the first brethren, and others that came
after them, for a long time did afflict their
bodies beyond measure by abstinence from
meat and drink, by vigils, by cold, by coarseness
of raiment, and by the labour of their hands.
They wore underneath, next the skin, girdles
of iron and exceeding strong coats of chain-
mail and hair shirts; wherefore the holy father,
bethinking him that upon such occasion the
brethren might become ailing and sick, and,
in truth, certain of them did in a little time
wax sick, did in a certain clause forbid any
brother to wear aught save his habit only
underneath next the skin.
Natheless, we that were with him do bear
witness of him that, albeit all the days of his
ife he was discreet and forbearing toward the
49 D
Saint Francis of Assisi
brethren, yet was it in such sort as that the
brethren, in the matter of food as in other
things, should at no time ever depart from the
way of poverty and decency of our Religion.
The most holy father himself, from the begin
ning of his conversion even unto the end of his
life was nevertheless always austere toward his
own body, albeit he was by nature feeble, and
could not live in the world otherwise than
delicately. Whence, on a certain time, taking
note that the brethren did, as at that time,
exceed the measure of poverty and decency in
food and in all things, in a certain sermon he
preached to sundry of the brethren, in the
person of all the brethren he said : " T
brethren think that our pittance is not enow
for the necessities of my body, yet, inasmuch
as it behoveth me to be the pattern and en-
sample of all the brethren, it is my will to use
and to be content with few meats, and those
of the poorest, and to use all other things in
accordance with poverty, utterly abhorring al
things sumptuous and delicate."
XXVIII, How he con* ANOTHER time,
descended to a sick brother when the B lessee
by eating grapes with Francis was at the
im * same place, a certain
spiritual brother and ancient in the religion lay
Saint Francis of Assisi
there sick and very feeble. Taking note of whom
the Blessed Francis was moved to pity over
him, but forasmuch as that time the brethren,
both they that were heal and they that were
sick, did with great cheerfulness use poverty
as it had been abundance, and in their ailments
made no use of medicines, nor did even ask
for them, but did rather take more willingly
such things as were unwholesome to the body,
the Blessed Francis said within himself: " And
that brother would eat ripe grapes the first
thing in the morning, I do believe it would
do him good." And as he thought even so
did he.
Whereupon one day he arose early in the
morning and called the brother secretly and
led him into a certain vineyard that was
nigh the place. And he chose a vine whereon
were grapes good to eat, and seating him nigh
the vine with the brother, he began to eat of
the grapes lest the brother himself should be
ashamed to eat alone. And while they were
yet eating, the brother was delivered of his
ailment, and both together alike praised God.
Whence that brother did all the days of his
life remember the mercy and pity that the
most holy father showed and did unto him,
and oftentimes with great devotion and shed
ding of tears would relate the same among
the brethren.
Saint Francis of Assisi
XXIX, How he made AT Celano in the
strip himself and his com- winter time when
panion that he might the Blessed Francis
clothe a poor woman. had & doth folded
after the fashion of a mantle that a certain friend of
the brethren had lent him, a certain old woman
met him and begged an alms. Whereupon
he straightway loosed the cloth from his neck,
and albeit that it were another s, gave it to
the poor woman, saying : " Go and make thee
a kirtle thereof for thy need is sore enow."
The old woman laughed thereat, and in
amaze, I know not whether of fear or joy,
took the cloth from his hands, and for fear
lest and if she should wait there might be*
danger of the same being asked for back, ran
as fast as she could and cut the cloth with her
shears. But when she found that there was
not enough cloth for a kirtle, she came
running back to the first kindness of the holy
father, pointing out to him that the piece of
cloth was too scanty for a kirtle. The saint
turned his eyes toward his companion that
wore such another piece of cloth on his back,
and said unto him : " Thou hearest what this
poor woman saith : For the love of God let
us bear with the cold and give that piece of
cloth to the poor woman, so that her kirtle
may be whole." And straightway as he him
self had given, the companion gave also.
Saint Francis of Assisi
Thus did both of them abide bare that the
poor woman might be clad.
XXX. That he held it a ONCE on a time
theft not to give to one when he was
more needy. coming back from
Siena he met with a certain poor man, and
saith he to his companion, " Needs must
we render up his mantle to this poor man
whose own it is, ror we only received the
same as a loan until such time as we should
find one poorer than ourselves." But the
companion having regard to the pious father s
own necessity, stoutly maintained that he
ought not to provide for another and neglect
himself. Unto whom said St. Francis :
" No mind have I to be a thief, for it would
be imputed to us as a theft were we not to
give it to one more needy." Whereupon the
pious father gave the mantle as a present to
the poor man.
XXXL How he gave a AT the Cell of
new mantle to a poor man Cortona the Blessed
upon condition, Francis wore a
new mantle that the brethren had pro
cured for him with some trouble. A poor
man came to the place lamenting his wife
53
Saint Francis of Assist
that was dead and his family left poverty-
stricken. On whom the Saint having com- ]
passion, said : " I give thee this mantle upon
such condition, that thou render it up to none
save he buy it fairly and pay thee." And
when the brethren heard this, they ran
together to the poor man, that they might ;
take the mantle away from him. But the
poor man taking heart of grace in the sight of
the holy father, held it fast with joined hands,
and was carrying it off as being his own. In
the end the brethren redeemed the mantle,
taking care that a fair price should be paid to
the poor man.
XXXIL-How a certain AT the Hill in the
poor man, by virtue of lordship of Perugia,
the alms of the Blessed the Blessed Francis
Francis, forgave his lord tQok [n a certain
the wrongs he had done ,
him, and laid aside his m f
hatred, ^ad known afore
time in the world,
and said unto him : " Brother, how is it with
thee ? " But he in the wrath of his heart
began to utter curses against his lord, saying :
" Thanks to my lord, whom may the Lord
curse, I cannot be otherwise than ill, seeing
that all my goods hath he taken away from
54
Saint Francis of Assisi
But the Blessed Francis seeing that he
persisted in his deadly hatred, having pity on
his soul, saith unto him : " Brother, for the
love of God, forgive thy lord, that thou mayst
set free thy soul, and it may be that he will
give thee back the things he hath taken from
thee. Elsewise thou hast lost thy things and
wilt lose thy soul." And he said : " I cannot
utterly forgive him save he give me back the
things he hath taken away from me." Then
the Blessed Francis said : " Behold, I give
thee this mantle, and I pray thee for the love
of the Lord God that thou forgive thy lord."
And forthwith his heart was sweetened, and
moved thereunto by the favour, he did forgive
his lord the wrongs he had done him.
XXXIIL How he sent a A CERTAIN poor
mantle to a poor woman WO man of Machilone
that suffered in the eyes as came to Ried for an
did himself. infirmity of the eyes.
But when the leech came to the Blessed Francis
he said unto him : " Brother, a certain woman
that hath an infirmity of the eyes hath come
unto me, but so poor is she that needs must I
give her her expenses." As soon as he heard this
he was moved to pity of her case, and calling
one of the brethren that was his warden, he
said unto him : " Brother warden, needs must
55
Saint Francis of Assisi
we return our loan." Who saith : " What is
the loan, brother ? " Whereupon he said :
" The mantle that we did borrow of the poor
sick woman we must return unto her." And
his warden saith unto him : " Brother, what
soever seemeth thee best, that do thou."
Then the Blessed Francis did joyfully call
a certain spiritual man that was familiar with
him and said unto him : " Take this mantle
and twelve loaves therewithal, and go unto
the poor woman that hath an infirmity of the
eyes, whom the leech shall show thee, and say
unto her : < The poor man unto whom thou
didst lend this mantle sendeth thanks unto
thee for the loan thereof. Take that which is
thine own. "
He went accordingly and said to the woman
all that the Blessed Francis had said unto him.
But she, conceiving that a jape was being
played upon her, with fear and shamefastness
said unto him : " Let me go in peace. I know
nought of that thou sayest." Whereupon he
set the mantle and the twelve loaves in her
hands. But she, perceiving that he spake this
in very sooth, with fear and reverence received
the same rejoicing and praising the Lord. And
fearing lest it should be taken away from her,
she arose stealthily by night and went back to
her own house with joy. But the Blessed
Francis had made ordinance with his warden
56
Saint Francis of Assist
to give her her expenses every day so long as
she abode there.
We therefore that were with him do bear
witness of him that so great was his charity
and pity both to sick and heal, not only
toward his brethren, but also toward other
poor folk both heal and sick, that those neces
saries of his body that the brethren at times
did procure for him with great pains and
travail, first of all soothing us with soft words
less we should be troubled thereat, with much
inward as well as outward gladness he would
give unto the poor, even though he himself
should go without things that were very
necessary for him. And on this account the
Minister General and his own warden did
enjoin him not to give his habit to any of the
brethren without their leave. For the brethren
of their devotion toward him would sometimes
beg a habit of him which he gave them
straightway, and sometimes he would divide
the same, giving a part and keeping a part
himself, forasmuch as he never wore but a
single habit.
XXXIV. How he gave IT thus fell out that
his habit to the brethren on a t i me w hen he
who begged it for the love was going thr ough a
* certain province
preaching, two Frenchborn brethren met him,
57
Saint Francis of Assisi
and after that they had had much consolation
from him, at last they begged his habit of him for
the love of God. But he forthwith, so soon as
he heard the words " love of God," put off his
habit and gave it unto them, himself abiding
naked some part of an hour.
For whensoever any did allege the love of
God to him, whether it were the cord where
with he was girded, or his habit or aught else
that were asked, he never denied it to any ;
yea, he did hereby put himself to sore straits,
and oftentimes would he rebuke the brethren
for that on account of almost anything what
soever they would take the name of "the
love of God" in vain. For he would say:
" So passing high and precious is the love of
God, that never ought it to be named save in
seldom times of necessity, and then only with
great reverence."
But one of those brethren did put off his
habit and gave it unto him in like manner.
Whensoever he gave his habit or a part there
of to another, he did thereby suffer great
necessity and tribulation for that he could not
have another habit quickly enough, more
especially for that he was always minded to
wear a poor habit pieced together with patches
sometimes both within and without ; yea,
never or right seldom would he wear a habit
of new cloth, but would obtain from some
58
Saint Francis of Assisi
brother his habit which he had worn for some
time. And at times he would even accept
one part of his habit from one brother and
another part from another. On the inner side,
on account of his many infirmities and chills
of the stomach and the spleen, he would some
times patch it double with new cloth. And
this manner of poverty in his raiment did he
hold and observe until the year that he de
parted to the Lord ; for a few days before his
death, for that he was dropsical and as it were
all dried up, and on account of the many
other infirmities that he had, the brethren
made a many habits for him for that of neces
sity his habit had to be changed every day and
night.
XXXV. How he was ANOTHER time a
minded to give a poor certain poor man
man a piece of cloth by came to the place
stealth * where the Blessed
Francis was, arid asked of the brethren a piece
of cloth for the love of God. Which when he
heard, the Blessed Francis said unto one of the
brethren: "Make search through the house and
see whether thou canst find a piece or any cloth
and give the same unto the poor man." And
the brother ran all over the house and said he
could not find any.
59
Saint Francis of Assisi
But so that the poor brother should not go
back empty-handed, the Blessed Francis went
secretly because of the warden, lest he should
forbid him, and took a knife, and sitting down
in a secret place began to cut off a piece of his
habit that was sewn on the inner side, mean
ing to give it to the poor man secretly. But
the warden perceiving the same, straightway
went to him and forbade him to give it, and
the more for that the cold at that time was
great and he himself was sick and exceeding
cold. Wherefore the Blessed Francis said
unto him : " If so be that thou wilt I should
not give him this piece, thou must by all
means make be given some other piece to our
poor brother." And so the brethren gave the
poor man some cloth from their habits at the
instance of the Blessed Francis.
When he went about the world preaching,
whether he were afoot or on an ass after that
he began to be sick, or on horseback in very
great and extreme necessity, for otherwise
would he not ride, and this but a little before
his death, if it were that any brother lent him
a mantle, he would only accept the same on
such condition as that he might give it to any
poor person that he met or that might come
unto him, so only that his spirit should bear
witness that it was necessary unto him.
60
Saint Francis of Assisi
XXXVL How he told AT the outset
Brother Egidhis to clothe o f t h e Religion,
thepoorman. whi j e he wag
sojourning at Rivo Torto with two com
panions that were all he had as at that time,
behold a certain man by name Egidius, that
was the third brother, came to him out of
the world, intending to take upon himself his
manner of life.
And what time he thus abode there for
several days clad in the garments he had
brought with him out of the world, it came
to pass that a certain poor man came to that
place begging an alms of the Blessed Francis.
The Blessed Francis turning him to this
Egidius, saith unto him : " Give the poor
brother thy mantle." Who forthwith with
great gladness took it off his shoulders and
gave it to the poor man. And thereupon
seemed it unto him that straightway God had
sent new grace into his heart for that he had
given his mantle to the poor man with cheer
fulness. And thus after that he was received
by the Blessed Francis he did ever make
godly progress even to the very highest per
fection.
61
Saint Francis of Assisi
XXXVII. Of the pen- WHEN the Blessed
ance he gave a brother Francis had gone for
that did misdeem of a tne purpose of
poor man, preaching to a cer
tain place of the brethren nigh unto Rocca
Brizzi, it so befell that on the very day that he
should preach, a certain poor man that was sick
came unto him. On whom having much com
passion, he began to speak to his companion
about his poverty and sickness, and his com
panion saith unto him : " True it is, brother,
that he seemeth poor enow, yet haply in all the
province is none that hath greater will to be
rich."
And being forthwith sharply rebuked by
the Blessed Francis he did acknowledge his
fault. And the Blessed Francis saith : " Wilt
thou on this account do the penance that I
shall enjoin thee ? " Who made answer :
" Willingly will I do it." And he said unto
him : a Go and put off thy habit and cast thee
down naked at the feet of the poor man and
tell him how thou hast sinned against him in
disparaging him and bid him that he pray for
thee." He went therefore and did all things
as the Blessed Francis had bidden him. And
after that he had so done he rose up and did
on his habit and went back to the Blessed
Francis. And the Blessed Francis saith unto
him : " Wouldst thou know how thou didst
62
Saint Francis of Assisi
sin against him, yea rather, against Christ ?
When thou seest a poor man, thou oughtest
to bethink thee of Him in whose name he
cometh, to wit, Christ that did take upon
Himself our poverty and infirmity, for his
sickness and poverty be as it were a mirror
unto us wherein we may look and with pity
perceive the sickness and poverty of our Lord
Jesus Christ."
XXXVIIL-Of the New AT another time
Testament that he made when he was sojourn-
be given to a poor woman, j at s> M of
the mother of two i T ,1 r>
brethren. the Llttle Portlon
a certain woman
old and poor that had two sons in the
Religion came unto the place begging an
alms of the Blessed Francis.
Straightway the Blessed Francis said to
brother Peter of Catana that was then
Minister General : " Can we have aught to
give this woman our mother ? M For the
mother of any brother would he call his
mother and mother of all the brethren.
Brother Peter made answer unto him :
"Nought is there in the house that we can
give her ; " for she would fain have had such
alms as that thereby she might sustain her body.
"Howbeit in the church we have one only
Saint Francis of Assisi
New Testament wherein we read the lessons
at matins." For at that time the brethren
had no breviaries and not many psalters.
The Blessed Francis therefore said unto
him : " Give our mother the Testament so
that she may sell it for her necessity. For
firmly do I believe that it will be better
pleasing to the Lord and to the Blessed Virgin
than if we should read therein." And so he
gave it her. For that may be said and
written of him which is read in the blessed
Job : " For pity came forth from his mother s
womb and did with him wax great."
Whence unto us that were with him, not
only those things that we have understood
from others as concerning his charity and
pity toward the brethren and other poor men,
but even those things that we have seen with
our eyes, full long would it be and full uneath
either to write or to tell.
Saint Francis of Assisi
THE FOURTH PART, OF HOLY
HUMILITY AND OBEDIENCE
IN HIMSELF AND IN THE
BRETHREN,
XXXIX, And first how THAT he might
he did resign the office of observe the virtue of
superior and appointed hol humilit some
brother Peter of Catana f J /5 r
Minister General. f , ew years . after
nis conversion,
in a certain Chapter before the brethren, he
did resign the office of superior, saying :
" Henceforward am I dead unto you, but see
here brother Peter of Catana, unto whom I
and all you will be obedient." And prostrat
ing himself upon the ground, he did promise
obedience and reverence unto him.
All the brethren wept thereat, and exceeding
great sorrow did wring forth full sore lamen
tation, to wit, when they saw themselves in a
manner made orphans to so great a father.
But the blessed father, lifting up his eyes
toward heaven and joining his hands, said :
" Lord, unto Thee do I commend the family
that hitherto Thou hast committed unto me.
And now, O Lord most sweet, on account of
those infirmities whereof Thou wottest, being
unable to have the care thereof, I do commend
65 E
Saint Francis of Assist
the same unto the ministers, the which in the
day of judgment shall be held answerable
before Thee, O Lord, in case any brother
shall perish through their negligence or evil
ensample or too harsh correction."
He therefore thenceforward did remain
subject even unto death, more humbly bearing
him in all things than ever a one of the others.
XL. How he gave up ANOTHER time he
even his companions, gave up all his corn-
being unwilling to have a panions to his vicar,
special companion. saying : " I am un
willing to seem singular in this prerogative of
liberty, that I should have a special companion,
but let the brethren assign me a companion from
place to place as the Lord shall inspire them."
Then he added : " I saw a blind man just now
since that had but a whelp to guide him on his
way, and fain would I seem no better off than
he." For this was always his glory, that, laying
aside all singularity and appearance of boasting,
the virtue of Christ did ever abide in him.
XLL That he did re. ONCE when he
nounce his of f ice by reason was asked by a
o bad superiors. certain brother
wherefore he had cast off the brethren from
66
Saint Francis of Assisi
his own care, and delivered them into strange
hands, as though they did in no wise belong
to him, he made answer : " My son, I do love
the brethren the best I may, but and if they
would follow my footsteps, verily, then should
I love them all the better, nor should I make
me strange unto them. For some there
be among the number of the superiors, that
do draw them aside to other things, setting
before them the example of the elders, and
holding my advice as of little account, but
that which they themselves do and how they
do it will be made clearer in the end."
And a little afterward, when he was weighed
down by exceeding infirmity, in the vehemence
of his spirit, he sate him upright in his pallet,
crying out and saying : " Who be they that
have snatched my Religion and my brethren
from my hands ? If I come to the General
Chapter, I will show them of what kind is
my will ! "
XLIL That he did hum- THE Blessed Francis
bly procure flesh-meats for was not as hamed to
the sick and monished obtain flesh _ meats
them to be patient. for a ^ brother
among the public places of the cities, but he did
admonish them that lay sick to bear any defi
ciency therein patiently, and not to get up
6?
Saint Francis of Assist
and make a grievance thereof whenever they
could not "be fully satisfied. Whence in the
first Rule he made be written thus : " I
beseech my brethren that in their infirmities
they be not wrath nor troubled either against
God or against the brethren, and that they be
not too solicitous to ask for medicines, nor too
desirous to relieve this flesh that so soon must
die, which is the enemy of the soul, but that
they give thanks for all things and desire to be
such as God would have them be, for them
that God hath fore-ordained unto eternal life
He teacheth by the stings of scourges and
infirmities, even as He himself saith : * Them
that I love do I rebuke and chasten. "
XLIIL Of the humble IN the city of Rome
answer of the Blessed what time those two
Francis and Dominic when bright guiding-
they were questioned to. {{ htg of the WQrld
gether by the Cardinal as . . r>i
So whether they would wlt >. the jessed
that their brethren should * ncis and the
be prelates in the Church, Blessed Dominic,
were both together
before the Lord Bishop of Ostia, that was
afterward High PontifF, and each in turn
did pour forth words of God as it were
streams of honey, at the last the Lord
Cardinal said unto them : " In the primitive
68
Saint Francis of Assisi
Church, the pastors and prelates were poor
men, glowing with the fervour of chanty
and not of covetousness. Wherefore then
do we not make of your brethren bishops and
prelates that should prevail over all other both
in word and ensample ? "
Then arose between the Saints a humble
and devout contention as to which should
first make answer, not indeed a conten
tion of precedence, but of deference on both
sides, as if one should compel the other to
make answer. But at length, the humility
of Francis did win the victory that he should
not be first to speak, and was victorious also
over Dominic in that he did humbly obey by
being the first to make answer.
The Blessed Dominic, therefore, said in
answer : " My lord, verily, unto high degree
have my brethren been promoted if they
would fain be learned in this matter ; and so
far as in me lieth, never will I allow that they
should obtain any high place of dignity."
Then the Blessed Francis, bowing himself
before the said Lord Cardinal, made answer :
"My lord, my brethren be called brethren
Minor, with the intent that they should not
presume to become brethren Major, for their
calling teacheth them to stand all on a level,
and to follow the footsteps of Christ s
humility, so that hereby they may at last be
69
Saint Francis of Assisi
exalted above others in regard to the Saints.
Wherefore, and you would that they should
bring forth fruit in the Church of God, hold
them and keep them in the condition of their
calling, and if it be that they shall climb up
on high, thrust them down by force into the
plain, and never allow them to rise up to any
preferment."
These were the answers of the holy men,
and when the replies on both sides were ended,
the Lord Bishop of Ostia, greatly edified
thereby, did give exceeding great thanks to
God.
And as the twain departed together, the
Blessed Dominic begged the Blessed Francis"
that he would deign to give him the cord
wherewith he was girded. The Blessed
Francis did out of humility refuse, even as
the other had begged it out of charity. But
the happy devotion of him that asked did win
the day, and the cord of the Blessed Francis
that he received as by violence of charity, did
the Blessed Dominic gird on under his habit,
and ever thereafter did devoutly wear.
At length the one did place his hands
between the hands of the other, and each did
most sweetly commend him to each in mutual
farewell greeting. And S. Dominic said
unto S. Francis : " Brother Francis, I would
that thy Religion and mine should be made
70
Saint Francis of Assisi
one, and that we should live in the Church
under equal conditions." At last, when they
parted asunder, the one from the other, the
Blessed Dominic said unto many of them
that stood by : " Of a truth I say unto you
that all the Religious ought to imitate this
holy man Francis, so absolute is the perfection
of his holiness."
XLIV. -That, as a fotm- FROM the beginning
dation of humility, he o f his conversion
would that all the brethren the Blessed Francis
ttet ers! "* b X G d S
ance, as a wise
builder, did lay his foundations upon a firm
rock, to wit, upon the exceeding great
humility and poverty of the Son of God,
calling his Religion that of brethren Minor
out of his passing humility. Whence, at the
beginning of the Religion, he would that the
brethren should abide in the hospitals of the
lepers to wait upon them, and there lay the
foundation of holy humility. For sithence
that both gentle and simple did come into
the Order, among other things that were
declared unto them, it was^ said that needs
must they humbly be as servants unto the
lepers and abide in their houses ; as is con
tained in the first Rule : " Willing to have
71
Saint Francis of Assisi
nought under heaven save only holy poverty,
whereby they are nourished in this world by
bodily and spiritual food, and in the world to
come shall obtain their heavenly heritage."
And thus did he found himself, both for
himself and for others, upon an exceeding
great humility and poverty, forasmuch as
being one of most account in the Church of
God, he did choose and will to be an underling
not only in the Church but even among his
brethren. May this lowliness in his thought
and his desire be his highest exaltation in the
sight of God and man !
XLVT.-That o all his WHEN he preached
good words and works he to t h e people in
would that the honour Rieti in the p iazza
should be attributed to God of ^ ^ SQ soQn
as his preaching
was ended, forthwith rose up the Bishop of the
city, a man verily discreet and spiritual, and
saith unto the people : "Our Lord from the
beginning sithence that He planted and builded
up His Church, hath ever enlumined her by
holy men that by word and ensample might
cause her to flourish, wherefore now in this
last hour hath He enlumined her by this poor
and despised and unlettered man Francis.
And for this be ye bound to love and worship
72
Saint Francis of Asstsl
the Lord, and to take heed that ye sin not, for
not on such wise dealeth He with every nation."
And when he had made an end of these
words, the Bishop came down from the place
where he had been preaching, and went into
the church of the bishopric. Unto whom
the Blessed Francis drawing nigh, did bow
himself before him, falling at his feet, and
said : " In truth I say unto you, my lord
Bishop, that no man hath ever done me so
great honour in this world as have you this
day, for others say : c This is a holy man,
attributing the glory and the holiness to me,
and not to the Creator, but you, as he that is dis
creet, have separated the precious from the vile."
For when the Blessed Francis was praised
and said to be a saint, he made answer unto
such discourses, saying : " As yet feel I no
assurance I may not fall away and have sons and
daughters, for in whatsoever hour the Lord
should take away from me His treasure that
He hath commended unto me, what else would
remain unto me save only body and soul that
even infidels have ? Yea, rather ought I to
believe that, if the Lord had granted to a robber
or a paynim so great blessings as He hath unto
me, more faithful than I would they have been
unto the Lord. For, whereas in a picture of
the Lord and the Blessed Virgin painted upon
wood the Lord is honoured and the Blessed
Saint Francis of Assisi
Virgin also, yet natheless do not the wood
and the painting attribute aught unto them
selves. And in likewise is the servant of God
in some sort a picture of God, wherein God
is honoured by reason of His goodness, yet
ought he to attribute nought as unto himself,
inasmuch as in the sight of God less is he
than the wood and the picture ; yea, he is
stark nought. Wherefore unto God alone is
the glory and the honour to be rendered, but
unto himself only shame and tribulation so
long as he liveth in the midst of the miseries
of this world."
XLVL That even until BEING minded to
his death he was fain to persevere even to the
have one o his com death in perfect hu-
panions as warden, and to m jij ty an d subjec-
live in subjection. tion, long before
his death he said unto the Minister General :
" I would that thou shouldst commit thy
wardership over me to one of my companions,
whom I may obey in thy stead, for such is the
benefit of obedience that I would thou shouldst
ever abide with me, both in life and death."
And thenceforward, even unto his death,
had he one of his companions as his warden,
whom he did obey in the stead of the Minister
General. Yea, on a time he said unto his
74
Saint Francis of Assisi
companions : u This grace among others
hath the Lord conferred upon me, that I
would as diligently obey a novice that hath
only to-day entered Religion, had he been
assigned me for my warden, as him that is
foremost and ancient in life and in the Reli
gion. For he that is subject ought not to
look upon him that is set over him as a man,
but as God, for whose sake he is made subject
unto him."
Afterwards he said : " None having autho
rity is there in all the world that is so feared
by his subjects, as the Lord would make me
be feared, if so I would, by my brethren. But
this grace hath the Lord granted me, that I
am minded to be content with all, as he that
is Minor in Religion."
But we that were with him have seen this
with our eyes, even as he that doth here bear
witness how, when certain of the brethren did
not satisfy him in his necessities, or said some
word to him such as a man is apt to be offended
thereat, straightway he went to prayer, and
when he came back he was unwilling to
remember him of aught, nor ever did he say :
"Such an one hath not satisfied me," or
" Such an one spake unto me such a word."
And thus persevering in such wise, the nearer
he drew nigh unto death, by so much the
more was he heedful to consider how best he
75
Saint Francis of Assisi
could live and die in all humility and poverty
and in all perfection of virtues.
XLVIL-Of the perfect THE most holy
manner of obedience that father would
he taught* , .
say unto his
brethren: :c My best-beloved brethren, fulfil
my injunction at the first word, and wait not
for what is said unto you to be repeated.
Argue not nor be ye judges of the injunction,
for nought is there impossible therein, seeing
that, even if it were that I should command
you aught beyond your strength, yet holy
obedience will never be lacking in strength."
XLVIIL-How he spake ON a time this was
f the perfectly obedient what he si hed forth
d"a d^boJ; ^ f before his com-
panions : " Scarce is
there one Religious in the world that doth
rightly obey his superior."
Straightway the companions said unto him :
;< Tell us, father, what is the perfect and the
highest obedience?" And he, by way of
answer, described one truly and perfectly
obedient under the figure of a dead man, as
thus : " Take a lifeless body and set it where
you please. Ye will see that it resenteth not
76
Saint Francis of Assisi
being moved, nor changeth its position, nor
crieth out when it is let go. If that it be set
upon a throne, it looketh not toward the
highest, but the lowest. If it be clad in
purple, then is it doubly wan. This is the
truly obedient, that asketh no question where
fore he should be moved, careth not where he
is placed, urgeth not that he should be changed
elsewhither. Promoted to office, he holdeth his
wonted humility ; and the more he is honoured,
the more he thinketh him unworthy."
Obediences purely and simply enjoined, not
asked for, he called holy obedience. But the
highest obedience, the obedience wherein flesh
and blood have nought of their own, he believed
to be that wherein, by divine inspiration, men
do go among the infidels either for the profit
of their neighbours or for the desire of martyr
dom, yea, and to ask for this obedience he
deemed to be right acceptable unto God.
XLIX. That it is a peril- THE blessed father
ous thing too lightly to thought it seldom ad-
order a brother to do aught yisable that an order
on his obedience," and should bg . n tQ a
also not to obey an order , , , .
thus given. Bother on his
obedience, for that
a weapon to be used only in a last necessity
ought not to be launched in the first instance.
77
Saint Francis of Assist
"The hand," saith he, "should not be too ready
to grasp the sword." On the other hand, he
would say : " He that hasteneth not to obey
an order given on his obedience neither feareth
God nor reverenceth man," so long, to wit,
as he hath no necessary cause for tarrying.
Nought is more true, for what else is the
power of command in one that giveth order
rashly but a sword in the hand of a madman ?
And again, what case is more hopeless than
that of a Religious who doth neglect and
despise his obedience ?
L. How he made answer CERTAIN of the *
to the brethren that would brethren said unto
persuade him to petition the Blessed Francis :
for a privilege that they Fath seest thou
might beallowedto preach > fi
freely.
at times do not allow
us to preach, and many days do they make us
stand idle in a district or ever we be able to
announce the word of the Lord. Better were
it that thou shouldst obtain from the lord Pope
a privilege in this matter, seeing that it would
be for the salvation of souls."
Unto whom he made answer rebuking them
sore, and saying : " Ye brethren Minor, ye
know not the will of God, nor will ye allow
me to convert the whole world as God willeth ;
78
Saint Francis of Assist
for I am minded first of all to convert the
prelates by holy humility and reverence, so
that when they shall see our holy life and our
humble reverence toward them, they shall ask
you to preach and convert the people, and call
them together to hear your preaching better
than your privileges that will only lead you
on to pride. And if it be that ye hold ye
aloof from all covetousness and persuade the
people to render the churches their due, they
themselves will beseech you to hear the con
fessions of their people, albeit hereof ought ye
to take no heed, inasmuch as so only they be
converted they will right eath find confessors
for themselves.
"As for me, I am fain to have this privi
lege of the Lord, that never may I have any
privilege from man, save only the privilege to
do reverence unto all, and to convert mankind
through obedience to our holy Rule rather by
ensample than by word."
LL Of the manner that THE Blessed Francis
all the brethren then held did maintain that the
in reconciling them one to brethren Minor were
another whensoever one r . u T j
should have given offence SC , nt f , the **** m
to another, these last days to
show ensamples of
life to them that were covered round about
79
Saint Francis of Assisi
by the darkness of their sins. He would say
that he was fulfilled of the sweetest smells and
anointed with the virtue of precious ointment
whensoever he heard the brave deeds of the
holy brethren that were scattered about the
world.
One day it fell out that a certain brother
did fling forth words of insult against another
in the presence of a nobleman of the island of
Cyprus. But when he that did this perceived
that his brother was somewht troubled thereby,
he was forthwith seized with such desire to
do vengeance on himself that he took of the
dung of an ass and did thrust the same into
his own mouth, grinding it with his teeth,
and saying : " Eat thou of the dung, thou
tongue that didst shed the venom of wrath
upon my brother." But when the nobleman
saw him do thus, he was stricken with amaze
ment and went his way greatly edified, and
from that time forth did dispose himself and
all that he had according to the will of the
brethren.
This therefore did all the brethren observe
as of wont, that if one of them had uttered a
word of injury or offence against another, he
did straightway without tarrying prostrate
him on the ground and kiss the foot of him
he had offended and did humbly ask his
pardon. The holy father did exult in such
80
Saint Francis of Assisi
things whensoever he heard that his sons did
of themselves show forth ensamples of holiness,
and did load those brethren with blessings
most worthy of all acceptation that did in
word or work bring sinners to the love of
Christ, for in the zeal for souls wherewith he
himself was wholly fulfilled he would that his
sons should show them true by their likeness
to himself.
LIL-How Christ did ON a time our Lord
make complaint to Brother J esus Christ said
Leo, the companion of the unto brother L
Blessed Francis, as con* ., .
cerningtheingratitudeand J e Companion of
pride of the brethren. the Blessed Fran
cis : " Brother Leo,
I lament over the brethren." Unto whom
brother Leo made answer : u Wherefore,
Lord ? " And the Lord answered : " For
three things : to wit, that they acknow
ledge not my blessings that I do so largely
and bountifully confer upon them, as thou
knowest, albeit they sow not neither do they
reap. Also for that all day do they murmur
and are idle, and also for that they do oftentimes
provoke one another to wrath and return not
to their love and forgive not the injury they
have received."
Saint Francis of Assisi
LHL How he made an* WHILST that he was
swer humbly and truly to abiding at Siena,
a certain doctor of the there came unto him
Order of Preachers that a Crtain doctor of
did ask him concerning a d theol of
word of Scripture. ~
the Order of
Preachers, a man truly humble and right
spiritual. And when he and the Blessed
Francis had discoursed together for some
little time on the words of the Lord, the
master asked of him concerning that word
of Ezekiel : " If thou speakest not to warn
the wicked from his wicked way, his soul
will I require at thine hand." For he said :
"Many, good father, do I know that be*
in mortal sin, unto whom I speak not to warn
them from their wicked way. Will their
souls be required at my hand ? "
Unto whom the Blessed Francis humbly
said that he was a simple man and that there
fore it was needful rather that he should be
taught of him than that he should make
answer as to the meaning of the Scrip
ture. Whereupon the master added humbly :
" Brother, albeit that I have heard of sundry
wise men the exposition of this word, yet
gladly would I learn your understanding
hereof." The Blessed Francis said therefore :
"If it be that the word is to be understood
generally, I take it in such wise as that the
82
Saint Francis of Assisi
servant ot God ought so to burn and shine in
his life and holiness in himself as by the
ensample of his light and by the tongue ot
his holy conversation he may be a rebuke
unto all the wicked. Thus, I say, the bright
ness of his light and the sweet smell of his
good name will be a warning to all to forsake
their wicked way."
The doctor, therefore, very greatly edified,
at his departure thence said unto the com
panions of the Blessed Francis : "My brethren,
the theology of this man, upborne by purity
and contemplation, is as a flying eagle, but our
learning doth crawl upon its belly over the
earth."
LIV. Of humility and ALBEIT the Blessed
keeping peace with the Francis would that
dergy * his sons should be
at peace with all men, and behave them as
little ones to the whole world, yet did he
teach them by word and show them by en-
sample that they should be more especially
humble towards the clergy.
For he would say : " We are sent to suc
cour the clergy for the salvation of souls and
whatsoever in them is found wanting should
be supplied by us. But let each receive his
wages not according to the authority he holdeth,
83
Saint Francis of Assist
but according to the work he doeth. Know
ye this, brethren, that the gain of souls is
most grateful unto God, and this gain we
can better make with the peace of the clergy
than by being at discordance with them. But
if they hinder the salvation of the people,
vengeance is God s and He will repay them
in due time, wherefore be ye subject unto
your superiors and take heed as far as in you
lieth that no evil jealousy arise between you.
If ye be sons of peace, ye shall win both
clergy and people, and this is more acceptable
unto God than to win the people only and to
scandalise the clergy. "Cover," saith he,
" their slips, and supply their many defects ;*
and when ye have done this be ye therefore
yourselves the more humble."
LV. How he did humbly THE Blessed Fran-
acquire the church of cis, seeing that it
S* Mary of the Angels of was tne w iH o f
the Abbot of S. Benedict Q od to mu l t iply
of Assisi, and would that tfae number of the
the brethren should ever ; fe fa said unto
more humbly dwell ^ . J ^
beloved brethren
and little sons, I see that it is the Lord s
will to multiply us, whence seemeth it
unto me a good and godly thing that we
84
Saint Francis of Assisi
should acquire, either from the canons of
S. Rufinus or from the Abbot of S. Benedict,
some church wherein the brethren may say
their Hours, and only have anigh thereunto
some poor little house builded of wattle and
dab wherein the brethren may rest and work,
for this place is not decent, neither is it large
enow for the brethren now that it is the Lord s
will to multiply them, and more especially
for that we have no church here wherein the
brethren may say their Hours. And if any
brother should die, it would not be decent to
bury him here, nor in the church of the
secular clergy." And this speech was pleasing
unto all the brethren.
He went therefore unto the Bishop of
Assisi and propounded the words aforesaid in
his presence. Unto whom said the Bishop :
" Brother, no church have I that I am able to
give you." And the canons made answer the
same.
Then went he to the Abbot of S. Benedict
of Mount Subasio, and propounded unto him
the same words. But the Abbot, moved to
pity, took counsel with his monks, and, by the
working of the divine grace and will, granted
unto the Blessed Francis and his brethren
the church of the Blessed Mary of the Little
Portion, as the smallest and poorest of all the
churches they had. And saith the Abbot
8;
Saint Francis of Assist
unto the Blessed Francis : " Behold, brother, <
we have granted that thou didst demand.
But if it be that the Lord shall multiply this
your congregation, we would that this place
should be the head of all your places."
And this speech pleased the Blessed Francis
and his brethren, and the Blessed Francis did .
rejoice exceedingly over the place that had
been granted to the brethren, and most of all for
that the name of the church was that of the
Mother of Christ, and for that it was so small
and poor a church, and, moreover, for that it
was named " of the Little Portion," wherein j
it was prefigured that it should be the head J
and mother of the poor brethren Minor. For
it was called " the Little Portion " inasmuch
as the courtyard had been named of old the
Little Portion.
Whence the Blessed Francis said: "There
fore did the Lord will that none other church
should be granted unto the brethren, and that
the first brethren at that time should not build
a church of new, nor should have none other
but this, forasmuch as herein was fulfilled a
certain prophecy through the advent of the
brethren Minor." And albeit it were poor,
and is now destroyed, natheless of a long time
did the men of the city of Assisi and of all the
lordship thereof have great devotion unto that
church, and greater yet have they to-day, and
86
Saint Francis of Assisi
their devotion waxeth daily. Wherefore
straightway, so soon as the brethren went
thither to abide, the Lord did multiply their
number day by day, and the sweet smell of
their good name was marvellously spread
abroad throughout all the Vale of Spoleto and
through many parts of the world. But afore
time it was called S. Mary of the Angels, for
that, as it is said, the songs of angels were
oftentimes heard there.
And albeit the Abbot and monks did freely
grant the same to the Blessed Francis and his
brethren, yet did the Blessed Francis, as a
wise and thrifty master, being minded that
his house, to wit, the Religion, should be
founded upon a firm rock, that is, upon an
exceeding great poverty, send yearly to the
said Abbot and his monks a basket-full of the
little fishes that be called roaches yearly in token
of great humility and poverty, for that the
brethren had no place of their own, nor abode
in any that was not in the demesne of some
or other in such sort as that the brethren
never had even the power of alienating the
same in any manner. But when the brethren
carried the little fishes to the monks yearly,
they, by reason of the humility of the Blessed
Francis that did this of his own free will,
gave them a vessel full of oil.
But we that were with the Blessed Francis
8?
Saint Francis of Assist
do bear witness that he himself, with affirma
tion of the word, did say of that church that
therein was it revealed unto him for many
were the prerogatives that the Lord did there
make manifest unto him that, among all the
churches of the world that the Blessed Virgin
loved, none loved she with so abounding an
affection as this. And on this account thence
forth had he the greatest reverence and devo
tion toward it, and, that the brethren might
always have the memorial thereof in their
hearts, at his death he made be written in his
will that all the brethren should do likewise.
For, about the time of his death, in the
presence of the Minister General and others
of the brethren, he said: "The place of
S. Mary of the Little Portion I am minded
to devise and leave to the brethren by will, so
that it may be held by the brethren in the
greatest devotion and reverence."
The which, indeed, our ancient brethren
did, for albeit the place were holy and pre-
elect by Christ and the Glorious Virgin,
yet did they preserve the holiness thereof by
continual prayer and silence by day and night.
And if at times they did talk after the term
and establishment of the silence, they spake
only with the greatest devotion and decency
of things pertaining unto the praise of God
and the salvation of souls. And if so it hap-
88
Saint Francis of Assist
pened that any should begin to speak idle and
useless words, albeit it was seldom that this
did befall, forthwith was he corrected by
another brother.
Moreover, they did macerate their flesh by
many fastings, by cold and nakedness, and by
the labour of their hands. For many a time,
to the intent that they might not stand idle,
would they help poor men in their fields that
did afterwards give them of their bread for the
love of God. By these and other good deeds
did they hallow the place and maintain them
selves in holiness. But thereafter, by occasion
of the brethren and of seculars assembling
together to that place more than they had
been wont, for that even the brethren be
colder in prayer and in godly works and more
lax, even to joining in idle talk and discourse
of the news of this world, than they were
wont to be, the place itself is not held in so
great reverence and devotion as heretofore it
wont to be, and as the first brethren would.
When the Blessed Francis had spoken these
words, forthwith he made an end thereof with
great fervour, saying : " I will, therefore, that
this place be always immediately under the
power of the minister and servant General, to
the intent that thence he may have the greater
care and solicitude in providing therein for a
good and holy family. Let clerks be chosen
89
Saint Francis of Assist
of the better and more holy and more honour
able of the brethren, and such as are in the
whole Religion they that know best how to
say the Office, to the end that not only lay
folk, but other brethren also may see and hear
them gladly, and with great devotion. And
of the lay brethren, let holy men and discreet,
humble and honourable be chosen to wait
upon them. I will also that no person and
no brother shall enter into that place save
only the Minister General and they that wait
upon him. And they shall not speak with
any person save with the brethren that wait
upon them and with the minister whensoever
he shall visit them. I will in like wise that
the brethren who serve them shall be bound
not to speak idle words or of the news of this
world unto them, or of any other things what
soever, save such as may be of profit unto their
souls. And, therefore, in especial is it my will
that none enter into that place, so that they
may the better maintain the purity and holi
ness thereof, and that nought at all be said nor
done in that place idly, but that the whole
place be held pure and holy in hymns and
praises to the Lord.
"And when any of those brethren shall
depart hence unto the Lord, I will that
another holy brother, wheresoever he may be,
be sent thither by the Minister General. For
90
Saint Francis of Assisi
if it shall be hereafter that other brethren shall
decline from purity and loyalty, I will that this
blessed place be and remain for ever the mirror
and good ensample of the whole Religion, and
in some sort a candlestick before the throne ot
God and before the Blessed Virgin burning
evermore and shining. Wherefore, may God
be gracious unto the shortcomings and faults
of all the brethren, and ever preserve and pro
tect this Religion, and this sapling of His own
plantation."
LVI. Of the humble ON a time when
reverence he showed as he was sojourning
concerning the sweeping at g. Mary of the
o! churches and cleansing L itt i e p ort i on an( }
them * the brethren as
yet were few, the Blessed Francis went
about throughout the towns and churches in
the circuit of the lordship of Assisi warning
and preaching unto men that they should do
penance, and he carried a broom for sweeping
the churches that were unclean, for the Blessed
Francis was sore grieved whensoever he saw
any church not so clean as he would have it.
And for this cause, when he had made an end
of preaching, he did always make all the
priests that were present be assembled together
in some place apart, lest he should be over-
9 1
Saint Francis of Assist
heard of the laymen, and did preach unto
them of the salvation of souls and particularly
that they should be careful to keep clean the
churches and altars and all things appertaining
to the celebration of the divine mysteries.
LVIL Of the country- Now when he went
man that found him to a certain church
sweeping a church, and Q f a v iH a g e j n tne
after his conversion did l ordsh i p o f Assisi, he
enter the Order and be"
came a holy brother. be g an , to f T e P , the
same humbly and to
cleanse it, and straightway a report concerning
him went forth through the whole village, for
asmuch as he was gladly seen of the folk therein
and yet more gladly heard. But when a certain
countryman of marvellous simplicity that was
ploughing in his field, John by name, did hear
of it, he went unto him forthwith and found
him sweeping the church humbly and de
voutly. And saith he unto him : " Brother,
give me the broom, for I have a will to help
thee." And taking the broom into his hands
he swept that which was left.
And while they were sitting together, saith
he to the Blessed Francis : " Brother, it is a
long time now sithence that I had a will of
serving God, and specially after that I heard
the talk about thee and thy brethren, but I
92
Saint Francis of Assist
knew not in what wise I could come unto
thee. Now, therefore, for that it hath pleased
the Lord I should see thee, I desire to do
whatsoever shall please thee."
The Blessed Francis, perceiving his devo
tion, did exceedingly rejoice in the Lord,
forasmuch as at that time he had but few
brethren, and it seemed him that by the
simplicity and purity of the man he ought
to be a good Religious. But he said unto
him : " Brother, if it be that thou art minded
to be of our life and society, needs must thou
strip thee of all those things that now thou
mayst have without offence for thine own,
and give them to the poor according to the
counsel of the Holy Gospel, forasmuch as all
my brethren that were able have done the
same."
When he heard this he went straightway
to the field where he had left his oxen, and
unyoked them, and led one thereof into the
presence of the Blessed Francis, and said unto
him : " Brother, so many years have I served
my father and all them of my household, and
albeit this be but a small portion of mine
heritage, yet am I willing to accept this ox
as my share and to give the same to the poor,
as it shall seem thee best." But when his
kinsmen and his brethren, that yet were little,
saw how he was minded to leave them, all of
93
Saint Francis of Assisi
his household began to weep so sore and to
bewail them with voices so sorrowful that the
Blessed Francis was moved unto compassion
thereby, for the family was large and helpless.
And the Blessed Francis saith unto them :
" Make ready food for all of us, and let us eat
thereof all together ; and weep not, for I will
make ye right joyful." And forthwith they
made ready and all did eat together with great
gladness.
After meat, the Blessed Francis said :
" This your son is minded to serve God, and
thereof ought ye not to grieve, but rather to
rejoice exceedingly. For unto you, not only
as toward God but as toward this world, is it
counted for a great honour and for the profit
both of souls and bodies that God should be
honoured of one of your own flesh, and all
our brethren shall be your sons and brethren.
And, for that he is a creature of God and is
minded to serve his Creator, whom to serve
is to reign as king, I cannot and I ought not
to yield him up to you, but to the intent that
ye may have some consolation for him, I will
that he make over that which is his own in
this ox unto you, as unto the poor, albeit,
according to the Gospel, he ought to give it
unto others of the poor." And all they were
comforted in the words of the Blessed Francis,
and most of all did they rejoice of the ox that
94
Saint Francis of Assisi
was yielded up unto them, seeing that they
were exceeding poor.
And, for that pure and holy simpleness in
himself and others was right well pleasing
unto the Blessed Francis, he clad him in the
habit of the Religion and took him with him
as his companion. For of so great simpleness
was he that he held himself bound to do in
all things as the Blessed Francis did.
Hence, when the Blessed Francis stayed in
any church or in any place to pray, he also
would look at him and straitly conform him
self unto all his acts and gestures. Insomuch
as if it were that the Blessed Francis did bend
his knees, or lift up his hands to Heaven, or
spit, or sighed, he also did all these things in
like wise. But when the Blessed Francis had
given thought to this matter, he with great
cheerfulness did begin to reprove him some
what as concerning these and the like simple
ways. Unto whom he made answer : " Father,
I did promise to do all the things that thou
dost, wherefore needs must I conform me
unto thee in all things." And the Blessed
Francis did marvel and marvellously rejoice
when he saw in him so great purity and
simplicity.
Howbeit thereafter began he to make so
great progress as that the Blessed Francis
and the other brethren did very greatly
95
Saint Francis of Assisl
marvel at his perfection, and after some little
space he died in that same holy proficiency in
godliness. Whence afterward the Blessed
Francis, with great cheerfulness ot mind and
body, would tell stones among the brethren
of his conversation, giving him the name, not
of brother, but of John the Saint.
LVIII. How he did Now when the
punish himself by eating Blessed Francis re
in the same dish with a tumed to the church
leper for that he had done of thfi Blessed
shame unto him. A T r , T . ,
Mary of the Little
Portion, he found brother James the Simple
with a certain leper that had many sores.
For the Blessed Francis had commended this
leper and all other lepers unto him, forasmuch
as he was, as it were, their leech and did wil
lingly tent and cleanse and bind up their
wounds, for at that time the brethren abode
in the hospitals of the lepers.
The Blessed Francis therefore said unto
brother James, as if reproving him : " Thou
shouldst not lead these Christians abroad, for
it is not decent, neither for thee nor for them."
For albeit he would that he should serve them,
yet was he unwilling that he should lead them
that were greatly afflicted beyond the hospital,
forasmuch as men are wont to abhor the
Saint Francis of Assisi
sight of such exceedingly, and brother James
was so simple that he went with them out of
the hospital as far as the church of S. Mary
of the Little Portion as if he had been going
thither with the brethren. Now the Blessed
Francis called the lepers themselves brother-
Christians.
And when he had spoken these words, the
Blessed Francis did straightway reproach him
self, thinking that the leper should have been
shamed by the reproof that he had spoken
unto brother James. And being fain to make
satisfaction both to God and the leper, he told
his fault to brother Peter of Catana that was
then Minister General, and saith he : " I
would that thou confirm unto me the penance
whereof I have made choice to do for this
default, and that thou wilt in no wise con
tradict me herein." Who made answer :
"Brother, whatsoever pleaseth thee, that
do ! " For brother Peter did so reverence
and fear him that he did not presume to con
tradict him, albeit thereby was he often him
self afflicted.
Then said the Blessed Francis : " Let this
be my penance, to wit, that I eat together in
one dish with my brother-Christian." When,
therefore, the Blessed Francis sat at table with
the leper and the other brethren, a dish was
set between the Blessed Francis and the leper.
97 G
Saint Francis of Assist
Now he was all covered with sores and loath
some, and in especial had he his fingers drawn
together and bleeding wherewith he took the
pieces out of the dish, in suchwise that when
he set them in the dish the blood and matter
from his fingers ran down thereinto. And
when brother Peter and the rest of the brethren
saw this, greatly were they grieved thereby,
but nought durst they say by reason of their
fear and reverence of the holy father.
He that saw this did write the same, and
beareth witness of these things.
LIX. How he put devils ON a time the
to flight by words of Blessed Francis
humility. went to the church
of the Blessed Peter at Bovara nigh the walled
town of Trevi in the Vale of Spoleto, and
with him went brother Pacifico that in the
world was called the King of Verse and the
Courtly Doctor of Singers. Now the church
was deserted. Wherefore said the Blessed
Francis to the Blessed Pacifico : " Go
back to the hospital of the lepers, for I am
minded to remain here alone to-night, and
to-morrow early in the morning come back
to me." Now whilst that he abode there
alone and had said Complines and other
prayers, he was fain to rest and to go to sleep,
98
Saint Francis of Assist
but could not. And his spirit began to be
afeared and to feel devilish suggestions, and
forthwith he went out of the church and did
cross himself, saying : " On behalf of God
Almighty, I bid you devils that you exercise
upon my body all that it hath been given unto
you to do by the Lord Jesus Christ, forasmuch
as all things am I ready to undergo ! For
sithence as that the greatest enemy I have is
mine own body, do you avenge me of mine
adversary and most bitter foe ! " And straight
way those suggestions did cease altogether,
and going back to the place where he had laid
him down, he went to sleep in peace.
LX. Of the vision of WHEN the morrow
brother Pacifico that he came, brother Paci-
saw, and how he heard fi co came back unto
that the seat of Lucifer fa j Th fil d
was reserved for the ^ . ^
humble Francis. Francis was then
standing before the
altar in prayer. And brother Pacifico
waited for him without the choir pray
ing in like wise before a crucifix. And
when he began to pray, he was lifted up and
snatched away into Heaven, whether in the
body or out of the body God only knoweth,
and saw in Heaven many seats, whereof he
saw one higher than the rest, and glorious
99
Saint Francis of Assisi
beyond them all, shining and made fair with
every precious stone. And marvelling at the
beauty thereof, he began to think within him
self whose seat it should be. And straightway
he heard a voice saying unto him : " This
seat was the seat of Lucifer, and in his stead
shall the humble Francis sit herein."
And when he had come back to himself,
forthwith the Blessed Francis went without
unto him, at whose feet the brother fell
straightway with his arms set together after
the manner of a cross, and conceiving him
as already in Heaven abiding in that chair,
said unto him : " Father, forgive me, and
beseech the Lord that He have mercy
upon me and forgive me my sins ! " But
stretching forth his hand, the Blessed Francis
lifted him up and straightway knew that he
had seen something in prayer. For he did
seem all changed, and spake unto the Blessed
Francis not as if he were still living in the
flesh, but as already reigning in Heaven.
But afterward, for that he was unwilling to
tell the Blessed Francis of his vision, he began
to speak words unto him, touching the matter
as it were in a roundabout fashion, and among
other things he said unto him : " How deemest
thou of thyself, brother?" The Blessed
Francis made answer and said unto him :
" Meseemeth that I be the greatest sinner in
100
Saint Francis of Assist
all the world." And straightway it was said
unto the soul of brother Pacifico : " Hereby
mayst thou know the truth of the vision thou
hast seen, for whereas on account of his pride
was Lucifer cast down from that throne, even
so shall Francis on account of his humility
deserve to be exalted and to sit therein."
LXL How he made him Now on a time
be haled naked with a w hen he was some-
rope tied round his neck what recovered of a
before the people. cemin sQre sickness
that he had, it seemed him that his allowance of
food in that sickness had somewhat exceeded,
albeit he had eaten but little ; and rising up one
day when as yet he was not free of his quartan
fever, he made the people of the city of Assisi
be called together in the Piazza for preaching.
And when he had made an end of preaching,
he bade the people that none should depart
thence until such time as he should return
unto them. Whereupon, entering into the
church of the bishopric of S. Rufinus with
many of the brethren and brother Peter of
Catana, that was a canon of that Church and
had been chosen first Minister General by the
Blessed Francis, he told the same brother
Peter, enjoining him on his obedience, with
out contradiction to do that which he
101
Saint Francis of Assist
should tell him to do. Brother Peter made
answer unto him : " Brother, I neither can
nor ought I to will or to do aught as concern
ing me and thee other than as it shall please
thee." Wherefore, putting off his habit, the
Blessed Francis bade him tie a cord round his
neck and hale him naked before the people as
far as the place where he had been preaching.
Another brother he bade take a dishful of
ashes and go up to the place where he had
preached, and when he was haled as far as that
place, should cast the ashes over his face.
But he did not obey him herein for the exceed
ing pity and compassion wherewith he was
moved towards him.
And brother Peter taking the cord tied to
his neck did hale him behind him as he had
bidden him. Howbeit he himself did weep
right sore, and the other brethren with him
did shed tears of exceeding compassion and
bitterness.
And when he was thus led naked before
the people as far as the place wherein he had
preached, he said : " You and all that by mine
ensample do leave the world behind and enter
into the religion and life of the brethren, ye
do all believe that I am a holy man, yet nathe-
less do I confess unto God and unto you that
in this sickness of mine I have eaten of flesh-
meats and broths sodden of meat." And all
102
Saint Francis of Assisi
as it were did begin to weep over him for
exceeding pity and compassion, specially as it
was then winter-time and the cold was exceed
ing sore, and he was not yet free of the
quartan fever.
And smiting their bosoms they did accuse
themselves saying : " If this saint, for just and
manifest necessity, with so great shame of his
body doth thus accuse himself whose life we
know to be holy, and whom moreover by his
exceeding abstinence and by the austerities
that he hath done unto his body from the
beginning of his conversion to Christ we do
behold alive in the flesh that is as it were already
dead before its time, what shall we wretched
ones do that all the days of our life have lived
and continually do live according to the desire
of the flesh ? "
LXII. How he would IN like manner at
that any comforts he re- another time when
ceived for his body should j^ fad eaten j n a
be known to all, certain hermitage at
the time of S. Martin s Lent, of cakes made
with lard on account of his ailments that did
render oil exceeding unwholesome, at the end of
the Lent, when he was preaching to a crowd of
folk, at the first word of his sermon he said
unto them : " Ye come to me with great
103
Saint Francis of Assisi
devoutness, believing me to be a saint, but I
do confess unto God and unto you that this
Lent I have eaten of cakes made with lard."
Yea, moreover, well-nigh always when he
had been eating with any laymen or some
little bodily comfort was made for him by the
brethren on account of his infirmities, straight
way within the house and without, in the
presence of the brethren that knew not
thereof and of laymen, would he say openly,
" I have eaten of such and such meats." For
he had no mind to hide from men what was
manifest to God. In like manner also, where
soever and in the presence of whatsoever
Religious or lay-folk, his spirit was moved to
pride or vainglory, or to any wickedness,
forthwith would he confess the same before
them nakedly, without any cloak whatsoever.
Whence once he said unto his companions :
" In such wise am I fain to live in the wilder
nesses and in other places wherein I sojourn,
as if all men were looking upon me. For
and if they take me to be a holy man, and I
lead not the life that holy man beseemeth,
then should I be a hypocrite."
When, therefore, on account of an ailment
of the spleen and a chill of the stomach, one
of his companions that was his warden was
minded to sew on the inner side of his habit
a little bit of fox-skin nigh the spleen and
104
Saint Francis of Assisi
stomach, particularly as the cold was great,
the Blessed Francis made answer unto him :
" If thou wouldst that I should have fox-skin
on the inner side my habit, make be set with
out upon the habit a shred of the same skin
so as that thereby men may know that I have
fox-skin within also." And this he made be
done, but full little did he wear it, albeit it
were greatly necessary unto him.
LXIIL How he did WHEN* he was going
straightway accuse himself throuo-h the city of
of the vain glory he had in Assis f a certain poor
giving alms. M woman did ask an
alms of him for the love of God, and forth
with he gave her the mantle that he had on
his back, but straightway without tarrying he
did confess before them that were following
the vainglory that he had therein.
And so many other ensamples like unto these
have we seen and heard of his absolute humi
lity, that we who were conversant with him
cannot set forth the same, neither in word
nor in writing. But to this did the Blessed
Francis pay the chiefest and highest heed,
that never should he be a hypocrite before
God, albeit on account of his often infirmi
ties, an allowance beyond the ordinary was
a necessity to him, yet did he ever take
105
Saint Francis of Assisi
thought to show in himself a good ensample
to the brethren and to others, wherefore
would he endure every privation that he might
take away from all every occasion of murmur
ing.
LXIV. How he described WHEN the time
the state of perfect humility o f the Chapter
in his own person. w a s drawing
nigh the Blessed Francis said to his com
panion : " Meseemeth I am not a brother
Minor save I be in the state that I shall tell
thee. Behold, the brethren with great devo
tion invite me to the Chapter, and moved by
their devotion I do go unto the Chapter with
them. And when they be gathered together
they beseech me that I shall announce unto
them the Word of God and preach among
them. And rising up I preach unto them as
the Holy Spirit shall have taught me. Now
suppose, when the preaching is ended, that
all should cry out against me, c We will not
have thee to reign over us, for thou art not
eloquent, as is befitting, and too simple art
thou, and an idiot, and we be sore ashamed
to have a superior over us so simple and
despised, wherefore henceforth presume not
to be called our superior ! And so they cast
me out with contumely and disgrace. Me-
106
Saint Francis of Assist
seemeth I am no brother Minor if I rejoice
not when they should thus hold me of no
account and cast me out with shame, being
unwilling that I should be their superior,
as gladly as when they venerate and honour
me, the profit and advantage to themselves
in either case being equal. For if I am glad
when they do exalt and honour me on account
of their own profit and devoutness, wherein
nevertheless may be peril to my soul, much
more ought I to be glad and joyful of the profit
and salvation of my soul when they speak
evil against me, wherein is the certain gain
of a soul."
L XV. How he vras WHEN the Chapter
minded to go humbly into was ended wherein
distant parts in like man- many brethren were
ner as he had sent other sent tQ cemin
brethren, and how he , r
taught the brethren to go . be j" d Sea >
humbly and devoutly the Blessed Francis,
through the world, remaining with
certain of the
brethren, said unto them : " My best be
loved brethren, meet it is that I should be
the pattern and ensample of all the brethren.
If, therefore, I have sent the brethren into
far-off parts to undergo travail and shame,
hunger and thirst, and other necessities, it is
107
Saint Francis of Assist
only just, and holy obedience doth require,
that I in like manner should go to some
distant province, to the intent that the
brethren should the more patiently endure
their adversities when they shall hear that I
also undergo the same. Go, therefore, and
pray the Lord that He grant me to make
choice of the province that shall be most to
His praise and the profit of souls and a good
ensample of our Religion."
For it was the wont of the most holy father
when he was minded to go to some province,
first to pray the Lord, and to send brethren
to pray that the Lord would direct his heart
to go thither where it was best pleasing unto
Him.
The brethren, therefore, went to pray, and
when they had made an end of praying they
came back unto him. And straightway with
joy he said unto them : " In the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ and of the Glorious Virgin
Mary and of all saints, I choose the province
of France, wherein is a Catholic folk, and the
more for that among other Catholics they do
manifest a special reverence toward the Body
of Christ, the which is right grateful unto
me, wherefore with them will I most willingly
hold converse."
For the Blessed Francis had so great
reverence and devotion toward the Body of
108
Saint Francis of Assisi
Christ, that he would it should be written in
the Rule that the brethren in the provinces
wherein they sojourned should have a great
care and solicitude in this matter, and should
admonish clerics and priests that they should
set aside the Body of Christ in an honourable
and decent place, the which, if they neglected
to do, the brethren were to do it for them.
He would, moreover, it should be set in the
Rule, that wheresoever the brethren should
find the names of the Lord and the words
whereby the Body of the Lord is made not
well and honourably put into safe keeping,
they themselves should collect the same and
put them away worshipfully, honouring God
in His words. And albeit these things were
not written in the Rule, for that it seemed
not good to the ministers that this should be
an injunction to the brethren, yet in his will
and in other of his writings he was minded to
leave to fche brethren his will in these matters.
At one time, indeed, he was minded to
send certain brethren through all the provinces,
that should take with them a number of pyxes
fair and clean, and wheresoever they should
find the Body of the Lord dishonourably set
away, they should place the same with all
honour in these pyxes. He desired, more
over, to send certain other brethren throughout
all the provinces with good and fair moulds of
109
Saint Francis of Assist
iron for shaping of the Hosts fair and
cleanly.
Widen, therefore, the Blessed Francis did
choose those brethren that he wished to take
with him, he said unto them : " In the name
of the Lord go ye two and two by the way
humbly and worshipfully, and, above all, with
strait silence from early morning until after
tierce, praying unto the Lord in your hearts,
and let idle words and useless be not so much
as named amongst you. For albeit that ye
walk abroad, let your conversation be not less
humble and beseeming than if ye were in a
hermitage or a cell. For we, wheresoever we
be, or whithersoever we may walk, have always
the cell with us. For brother Body is our
cell, and the soul is the hermit that abideth
within the cell to pray to the Lord and
meditate upon Him. Whence if it be that the
soul abideth not quietly in her cell, of right
little avail is the cell of the Religious builded
with hands."
And when he had come as far as Florence
he found there my Lord Ugolino, Bishop of
Ostia, that was afterward Pope Gregory, who,
when he had heard from the Blessed Francis
that he was minded to go into France, forbade
him to go thither, saying : " Brother, it is
my will thou go not beyond the mountains,
for many prelates there be that gladly would
no
Saint Francis of Assisi
hinder the good work of thy Religion in the
Court of Rome. But I and the other
Cardinals that love the Religion will right
gladly protect and help the same if thou wilt
abide within the circuit of this province."
And the Blessed Francis saith unto him :
" My lord, great shame is it unto me, seeing
that I have sent others my brethren into
provinces far away, if that I myself remain in
these parts, and partake not in the tribulations
that they for the Lord s sake are about to
endure."
But the Bishop said unto him, as it were
reproving him : " Wherefore hast thou sent
thy brethren so far away to die of hunger and
to suffer other tribulations ? "
The Blessed Francis made answer unto
him with great fervour and in the spirit of
prophecy, saying : " My lord, weenest thou
that the Lord hath sent the brethren for the
sake of these provinces only ? Yea, I tell thee
of a truth that God hath chosen and sent the
brethren for the profit and salvation of the
souls of all the men of this world ; not alone
in the lands of the faithful, but even in the
lands of the infidel shall they be received, and
many be the souls that they shall win."
And the Lord Bishop of Ostia did marvel
at his words, affirming that he spake the
truth, yet even so would he not allow him to
in
Saint Francis of Assisi
go into France ; but the Blessed Francis sent
thither brother Pacifico with many other
brethren. Howbeit, he himself went back to
the Vale of Spoleto.
LXVI. How he taught UNTO a certain
the brethren to win the hermitage of the
souls of certain robbers by brethren above the
humility and charity. BorgQ San Sepokro
came robbers on a time for bread, that did hide
them in the woods and rob them that passed that
way. Certain of the brethren said that it was
not a good thing to give them alms, but others
out of compassion did give for the sake of^
moving them to repentance.
In the meanwhile the Blessed Francis came
to that place whom the brethren did ask
whether it were a good thing to give them
alms, and the Blessed Francis said unto them :
" And ye will do as I shall tell you, I trust in
the Lord that ye shall win their souls. Go
ye therefore and procure good bread and good
wine and carry them into the forest wherein
they abide, and cry out saying : Brother
robbers, come unto us, for that we be brethren,
and bring you good bread and good wine !
They will come incontinent. Then spread
ye a napkin on the ground and set the bread
and wine thereon, and serve the same humbly
112
Saint Francis of Assist
and cheerfully until that they have eaten.
Howbeit, after that they have eaten, ye shall
speak unto them of the Word of God, and at
the last ye shall prefer this first petition for
the love of God, to wit, that they do promise
you not to murder nor do no man any hurt to
his person. For and ye shall ask them every
thing at once, they will not hearken unto you,
but so much will they promise ye forthwith
for the sake of your humility and charity.
" Then, on another day, on account of their
good promise, carry unto them along with the
bread and wine, eggs and cheese, and serve
until they shall have eaten. And when they
have eaten thereof ye shall say unto them :
Why stand ye here all the day, to die of
hunger and suffer so many hardships, and
therewithal to do so many evil deeds in will
and in work, whereby, save ye be converted
unto the Lord, ye do destroy your own souls ?
Better is it that ye serve the Lord, that shall
bestow upon you in this world the things that
be necessary to the body, and in the end shall
save your souls. Then shall they be inspired
of God and shall be converted for the sake of
your humility and patience that ye have shown
them."
The brethren accordingly did all things as
the Blessed Francis had told them, and the
robbers by the grace and mercy of God did
H H
Saint Francis of Assist
hearken unto them and did observe letter by
letter and point by point all things whatsoever
the brethren did humbly beseech them to do.
Yea, by reason of the humility and familiarity
of the brethren toward them, they did begin
humbly to serve the brethren themselves,
bearing wood on their shoulders as far as the
hermitage, and, at the last certain of them did
enter the Religion. Others moreover, con
fessing their sins, did penance for those they
had committed, promising in the hands of the
brethren that they would thereafter live of the
labour of their hands and never be guilty of the
like again.
LXVIL How hewas ON a time the
beaten of devils and knew Blessed Francis
thereby that it was better went tQ Rome tQ
pleasing to God he should { fa j d fi . fa
stay in poor and humble r ~ .
places than with Car^ of Ostla > and after
Finals. that he had stayed
some days with him,
he visited also the lord Leo, a Cardinal that was
mightily devoted to the Blessed Francis. And
for that it was then winter time and altogether
unfit for walking by reason of the cold and
wind and rain, he besought him that he would
sojourn with him some days and take his
victual from him as a poor man along with
114
Saint Francis of Assisi
the other poor men that did eat daily in his
house.
Howbeit this he said for that he knew the
Blessed Francis was minded always to be taken
in as a poor man wheresoever he might be
lodged, albeit the lord Pope and the Cardinal
with the greatest reverence and devotion
would have received him and reverenced him
as a Saint. Moreover he added : " I will
give thee a good house apart, wherein thou
mayst pray and eat if thou wilt."
Then brother Angelo Tancredi that was
one of the twelve first brethren, who also was
staying with the said Cardinal, said unto the
Blessed Francis: "Brother, nigh hereby is a
certain tower very roomy and remote wherein
thou mayst dwell as in a hermitage." The
which when the Blessed Francis saw, he was
pleased therewithal, and coming back to the
Cardinal said unto him : " My lord, haply I
will remain with you for some days."
And the lord Cardinal made great joy
thereof. Brother Angelo therefore went and
made ready a place in the tower for the Blessed
Francis and his companion. And for that the
Blessed Francis was not minded to come down
from thence so long as he abode with the
Cardinal and desired also that none should
come in unto him, brother Angelo promised
and made ordinance that every day victual
"5
Saint Francis of Assist
should be brought thither for him and his
companion.
And when the Blessed Francis had gone
thither with his companion, on the first night
when he was fain to ga to sleep therein, came
devils and did beat him sore. And calling his
companion he said unto him : " Brother, the
devils have beaten me sore, and therefore I
will that thou remain anigh me, for I am
afeared to stay here alone." And that night
his companion bode anigh him, for the Blessed
Francis was all trembling as he that is smit
ten with an ague, wherefore both were awake
through the whole night.
In the meanwhile, said the Blessed Francis
to his companion : " Wherefore have the
devils beaten me ? and wherefore hath power
been given unto them of the Lord that they
should do me hurt ? " And saith he : " The
devils be the Lord s sergeants, for even as the
High Bailiff of the city doth send his sergeant
to punish him that hath committed an offence,
even so doth the Lord by his sergeants, to
wit, by the devils that in this world are His
ministers, correct and chastise whomsoever He
loveth. For even the perfect Religious doth
oft-times sin, albeit he know not thereof;
wherefore by means of the devil is he chastised
for that he knoweth not his sin, to the intent
that he may search diligently both within him
116
Saint Francis of Assisi
and without, and find out those things wherein
he hath offended. For them that the Lord
loveth of very love in this world, nought in
them doth He leave to be punished hereafter.
" Howbeit, by the mercy and grace of God,
I know not that I have offended in aught for
the which I have not made amends by con
fession and satisfaction ; yea, by His mercy
hath God granted me this boon, that as con
cerning all things wherein I may please or
displease Him I do receive clear knowledge in
prayer. But it may be that He hath now by
His sergeants chastised me for that albeit my
lord Cardinal hath gladly shown me mercy
and that it is necessary for my body to receive
this refreshment, yet my brethren that go
about the world enduring hunger and mani
fold tribulations, and other brethren that abide
in hermitages and sorry houses, when they
shall hear that I am sojourning with my lord
Cardinal, may find occasion to murmur against
me, saying, c We do endure all these many
adversities, while he hath these comforts of his
own.
" For I am bound ever to set them a good
ensample, seeing that for this have I been
given unto them, for more are the brethren
edified when I abide amongst them in their
sorry places rather than in others, and more
patiently do they bear their own tribulations
117
Saint Francis of Assist
when they hear that I also do endure the
same."
For in truth this was the chiefest and con
tinual study of our father, that always and in
all things he should afford a good ensample,
and take away from the brethren all occasion
of murmuring as concerning him. And on
account of this, sick or heal, so many and so
sore were the sufferings he endured that all
the brethren whosoever that knew thereof as
did we that were with him until his dying day,
so often as they read thereof or commend them
in writing to memory, cannot refrain them
from tears, and are willing to undergo all
tribulations and necessities with the greater
patience and cheerfulness.
The Blessed Francis come down therefore
from the tower early in the morning and went
to the lord Cardinal, telling him all that had
befallen him and that he and his companion
had undergone, yea, he even said unto him :
" Men do believe me to be a saint, and behold,
the devils have cast me forth of my retreat."
And the lord Cardinal was right cheerful
with him. Howbeit, for that he knew and
reverenced him as a saint, he would not con
tradict him after that he was minded not to
stay there. And so the Blessed Francis bid
ding him farewell, came back to the hermitage
of Fonte Palumbo nigh Rieti.
118
Saint Francis of Assisi
LXVIII. How he rebuked WHEN the Blessed
the brethren that wished Francis was in the
to go by the way of their Chapter General at
Pft-Sf^SCj S Ma r y of the Little
mility, and did foretell rt OI ?> at was
them of the reformation called the Chapter of
of the Order and the the Wattles, for that
bringing back thereof to no dwellings were
its first condition. therein but such as
were builded with wattles, and five thousand
brethren were assembled, a great many that were
wise and learned went to the lord Bishop of Ostia,
that was likewise there, and said unto him :
" My lord, we would that thou shouldst per
suade brother Francis to follow the counsel of
the wiser brethren, and allow himself some
times to be guided by them." And they did
allege the Rules of S. Benedict, S. Augustine,
and S. Bernard that did teach how such and
such should be the life of them that were in
the Order.
And when the Cardinal had repeated all
these things to the Blessed Francis by way of
admonition, the Blessed Francis, making none
answer unto him, did take him by the hand,
and led him unto the brethren in Chapter
assembled, and spake thus unto the brethren
in the fervour and the strength of the Holy
Spirit : " My brethren ! My brethren ! The
Lord hath called me by the way of simplicity
119
Saint Francis of Assist
and humility, and this way hath He pointed
out to me in truth for myself and for them
that are willing to believe me and to imitate
me. I am fain, therefore, that ye name unto
me none other Rule, neither of S. Benedict,
nor of S. Augustine, nor of S. Bernard, nor
none other way nor form of living save that
which hath been mercifully shown and given
unto me by the Lord. And the Lord hath
told me that He would I should be a new
covenant in the world, and that He would not
lead us by any other way than by that know
ledge. But with all your science and your
wisdom, God will confound you, and I have
trust in the sergeants of the Lord, that by
means of them God will punish you, and that
ye shall yet return to your condition, for aD
your fault-finding, will ye or nill ye ! "
Then the Cardinal was sore amazed, and
answered nought, and all the brethren were
mightily afeared.
1 20
Saint Francis of Assisi
LXIX. How he fore THE Blessed Fran-
knew and foretold that c j s sorrowed sore
knowledge should be the to see the know-
occasion of ruin to the j, that puffeth
Order, and how he tor^
badeoneofthecompanions U P sought after
to devote himself to the to * he neglect of
study of preaching, godliness, and more
especially if any
should persevere not in the vocation where
in he was called at the beginning. For he
would say : " Those brethren of mine that
are led away by curiosity of knowledge in the
day of tribulation will find their hands empty.
Therefore would I that they should rather be
corroborated in godliness, so that, when the
time of tribulation shall come, they may have
the Lord with them in their straits, for verily
tribulation shall come, such as that books
useful for nought shall be cast aside into
lockers and dark corners."
This he said not because the reading of
Holy Scripture was displeasing to him, but
that he might withdraw all from overmuch
care for learning. For he would rather that
they should be good brethren in charity than
smatterers in the curiosities of knowledge.
He also scented aforehand the times that in
no long space were to come wherein he fore
knew that the knowledge which puffeth up
should be the occasion of falling, whence after
121
Saint Francis of Assisi
his death he did appear to one of the com
panions that on a time was over-intent upon
the study of preaching, whom he did rebuke
and warn, bidding him take good heed to
walk in the way of humility and simplicity.
LXX. That in the conv THE Blessed Fran-
ing time o tribulation, c i s sa id ; The time
they that shall enter the sha u come w herein,
Order shall be blessed, and b the eyil examples
they that shall be approved J c . , ,
shall be better than they f ev l brethren,
that went before them. this Rehgion, be-
loved or Cjod, shall
be diffamed in such sort as that she shall be
ashamed to go forth in public ; but they that
at that time shall come to take the Order
upon them, shall be led thereunto by the
working of the Holy Spirit only, and flesh and
blood shall print no stain upon them, but they
shall be truly blessed of the Lord. And, albeit
in them their works shall not be meritorious,
yet, natheless, for that the charity which did
make the saints work fervently in spirit doth
wax cold, exceeding great temptations shall
come unto them, and they that in that time
shall have been found approved shall be better
than they that went before them. But woe
unto them that, with only the show and
appearance of religious conversation, and
122
Saint Francis of Assisi
applauding themselves on their own wisdom,
and putting their trust in their knowledge,
shall then have been found idle, that is, not
endeavouring themselves in godly works, in
the way of the cross and of repentance, in the
pure observance of the Gospel that by their
profession they are bound to observe in purity
and simplicity ! For they resist not with con
stancy the temptations that are permitted to
befall for the probation of the elect ; but they
that shall have been proven and approved,
shall receive the crown of life whereunto the
malice of the reprobate doth cause them to
LXXL How he made A CERTAIN corn-
answer to his companion panion of the
that asked him wherefore Blessed Francis
he corrected not the . Qnce sM . Fath
cesses that did overtake , .
the Order in his own P^ 01 ! me > that
time ^ which I would say
unto thee hath
already been considered of many," and saith he :
"Thou knowest how formerly by the grace of
God the whole Religion did flourish in the purity
of perfection ; how all the brethren, with great
fervour and solicitude, did in all things observe
holy poverty, to wit, in their small and sorry
buildings and furniture, their few and sorry
123
Saint Francis of Assisi
books and habits, and as in these so in all
other outward matters, they were of one will
and fervour and solicitude to observe all things
that pertain to our profession and vocation,
and the ensample to all, and in like manner
were they all of one mind in the love of God
and of their neighbour, as men truly apostolic
and evangelic. But now for some little time
past hath this purity and perfection begun to
be changed into somewhat exceeding different,
albeit many do talk and excuse the brethren
by reason of their multitude, saying that on
this account these things cannot be observed
by the brethren ; yea, many brethren have
been smitten with so great blindness as that
the people is more edified by these than by the
former things, and more readily converted to
devotion, and therefore it seemeth them that
they do live the more becomingly, despising
and setting at nought the way of holy sim
plicity and poverty that was the very beginning
and foundation of our Religion. Whence
we, taking thought of these things, do firmly
believe that they are displeasing unto thee,
yet do we greatly marvel wherefore, if they do
thus displease thee, thou dost put up with
them and not correct them."
The Blessed Francis made answer and said
unto him : " The Lord forgive thee, brother,
forasmuch as thou art minded to be mine
124
Saint Francis of Assist
adversary against me, and to mix me up with
these things that pertain not unto mine office.
For so long as I held the office of superior
over the brethren and they did abide in their
vocation and profession, albeit that from the
beginning of my conversion I have ever been
ailing, yet with such small solicitude as I
could did I endeavour to satisfy them both by
ensample and by preaching ; but after that I
perceived how the Lord did multiply the
number of the brethren, and how they them
selves by reason of their lukewarmness and
want of spirit did begin to decline from the
right way and safe wherein they had been
wont to walk, and treading the broader way
that leadeth unto death, would no longer pay
heed unto their calling and profession nor to
any good ensample, and were not minded to
forsake the perilous and deadly journey they
had emprised by reason of any preaching or
admonition or ensample of mine that I did
ever manifest before them, I did, therefore,
resign the superiorship and the government
of the Religion unto God and unto the
ministers thereof. Whence, albeit that at the
time when I did renounce mine office of
superior over the brethren I did excuse me
before the brethren in the Chapter General
for that, by reason of mine infirmities, I was
not able to undertake the charge of them, yet
125
Saint Francis of Assisi
natheless, were the brethren willing to walk
according to my will, for their comfort and
utility I would that they should have none
other minister but me until my dying day.
From the time that a good and faithful sub
ject knoweth and observeth the will of his
superior, little solicitude need the superior
have about him ; yea, so greatly should I
rejoice in the goodness of the brethren, by
reason of the gain unto them and the gain
unto myself, that if I were lying abed sick it
would be no trouble unto me to satisfy them ;
for that mine office that is, the office of
superior is spiritual only, to wit, to have the
mastery over their evil ways and spiritually to
correct and amend them. But, seeing that I
cannot correct and amend them by preaching,
admonition, and example, I am not minded to
become an executioner to punish and scourge
them like the magistrates of this world.
" For I trust in the Lord that the invisible
enemies that are the sergeants of the Lord for
punishing the guilty in this world and in the
world to come will yet take vengeance on
them that transgress the commandments of
God and the vow of their profession, and will
make them be corrected by the men of this
world to their reproach and shame, and that
so they may be turned back unto their own
calling and profession.
126
Saint Francis of Assist
"Howsoever, unto the day of my death
never will I cease, at least by good ensample
and by good deeds, to lead the brethren to
walk in the way that the Lord did point out
unto me, the way that I have taught and
pointed out by word and ensample, so as that
they may be without excuse before God, and
I shall not be bound before God to render any
further account concerning them."
LXXIL That by the THE most holy
prayers and tears of the father would not
humble and simple that his brethren
brethren are converted should bg coyetous
f^f+rS of knowledge and
ledge and preaching of books, but his
ot hers wl " an d tnat which
he preached unto
them was that they should take heed to be
founded upon holy humility and to imitate
pure simplicity, holy prayer, and our Lady
Poverty, wherein the holy first brethren did
build, and this alone he told them was the
safe way to the salvation of their own souls
and the edification of others, forasmuch as
Christ, to the imitation of whom we be
called, did show and teach this way alone by
word and likewise by ensample.
For the blessed father looking forward to
127
Saint Francis of Assist
things to be, knew by the Holy Spirit, and
many a time and oft did say unto the brethren
that "many brethren taking occasion from
the edification of others will let go their own
calling, to wit, holy humility, pure simplicity,
prayer, devotion and our Lady Poverty, and
it will come to pass with them that they shall
think themselves thereby to be the more endued,
that is fulfilled, with devotion, and to glow
more warmly with the love, and to be enlu-
mined more brightly by the knowledge of
God by reason of their understanding of
Scripture. Hence in time of trial they will
remain inwardly cold and empty, so as that
they will not be able to turn back to their
early calling, for that the time for living
according to their calling they have lost in
vain studies and false, and I fear lest that
which they did seem to have shall be taken
away from them, forasmuch as that which
was given unto them, to wit, to hold and
imitate their calling, they have altogether
neglected."
And he said further : " Many brethren
there be that set all their study and all their
care upon acquiring knowledge, letting go
their holy calling by wandering forth both in
mind and body beyond the way of humility
and holy prayer ; who when they have preached
to the people and have learnt that some have
128
Saint Francis of Assisi
thereby been edified or converted to repent
ance, are incontinent puffed up and extol
themselves upon their work and the gain of
another as if it had been their own gain ;
when nevertheless they have preached rather
to their own condemnation and harm, and
have done nothing for themselves according
to the truth, save only as the instruments of
them through whom in truth the Lord hath
gathered in this harvest, for them that they
believe to be edified and converted to repent
ance by their knowledge and preaching, the
Lord doth in truth edify and convert by the
prayers of the holy, poor, humble and simple
brethren, albeit the holy brethren for the
most part know not aught thereof, for thus
is it the will of God they should know not
lest haply they might pride themselves thereon.
"Those brethren be my knights of the
Table Round that do hide them in wilder
nesses and lonely places that they may give
themselves up to prayer and meditation bewail
ing their own and others sins, living simply
and humbly conversing, whose holiness is
known unto God, albeit that at times it is
unknown to the brethren and to men. When
the souls of these shall be presented by the
angels of the Lord, then shall the Lord show
them the fruit and wages of their travail, to
wit, the many souls that have been saved
129 I
Saint Francis of Assisi
through their prayers and tears, and shall say
unto them : " My dearly beloved sons, such and
so many be the souls that have been saved by
your prayers and tears and ensamples, and for
that ye have been faithful over a few things, I
will make ye rulers over many things. Others,
verily, have preached and laboured in sermons
of their own wisdom, yet is it through your
merits that I have wrought the fruit of salva
tion, wherefore receive ye the wages of their
labours as well as the fruit of your merits,
which is the everlasting kingdom that ye
have snatched by the violence of your sim
plicity and humbleness, and of your prayers
and tears.
" And even thus shall they, bringing their
sheaves, that is, the fruits and deservings or
their holy humility and simplicity, enter into
the joy of their Lord rejoicing and exulting.
But they that cared for nought save only to
know and to point out to others the way of
salvation, doing nought as for themselves,
shall stand naked and empty-handed before
the judgment-seat of Christ, bringing only
the sheaves of confusion and of shame and
of sorrow.
" Then shall the truth of holy humility and
simplicity and of holy prayer and poverty
that is our calling, be exalted and glorified
and magnified, the which truth they that are
130
Saint Francis of Assist
puffed up with the wind of knowledge have
disparaged in their life and in the idle sermons
of their own wisdom, saying that truth itself
is a lie, and, as though they had been smitten
with blindness, cruelly persecuting them that
did walk in the truth.
" Then shall the error and the falsehood of
their opinions wherein they have walked, and
which they have preached for the truth,
whereby they have cast down many into the
pit of darkness, come to an end in grief and
confusion and shame, and they themselves
with the darkness of their opinion shall be
overwhelmed in outer darkness with the spirits
of darkness."
Whence the Blessed Francis did oftentimes
say upon that word : " The barren hath borne
seven and she that hath many children is
waxed feeble " : " The c barren is the good
Religious, simple, humble, poor and despised,
vile and abject, that with holy prayers and
godly works doth edify others continually, and
bringeth forth with grievous groaning."
This word did he repeat many a time and
oft before the ministers and other brethren,
more especially in the Chapter General.
Saint Francis of Assisi
LXXIII. How it was his THE faithful servant
will and teaching that the an d perfect imitator
superiors and preachers o f Christ, Francis,
should exercise themselves fee } inR himself in
in prayer and works of virtue of hol hu .
humility* ! r
miiity in a peculiar
manner transformed into Christ, did desire
humility itself in his brethren beyond all other
virtues, and did most affectionately encourage
them without ceasing by word and ensample to
love, desire, obtain and keep that grace, and
most of all did he admonish and induce the
ministers and preachers to exercise them in
works of humility.
For he said that by reason of holding the
office of superior, or of devotion to the cares
of preaching, they ought not to omit holy and
devout prayer, going forth for alms, working
at times with their hands, and doing other
works like the rest of the brethren, for the
sake ot good ensample and the gain of their
own and other souls. He said moreover :
" Greatly are those brethren that are under
them edified when their ministers and
preachers give themselves up to prayer and
incline them willingly to works of humility
and services of mean account. For otherwise
cannot they without confusion and prejudice
and condemnation to themselves admonish
other brethren as concerning these matters.
132
Saint Francis of Assisi
For meet is it they should practise the ensample
of Christ before they preach it, and preach
and practise at the same time."
LXXIV. How unto his THE Blessed Francis
own shame he taught the once ca ll e( j together
brethren to know when a number of thfi
he was the servant of God ^^ and said
and when not, ,, T
unto them : " 1
have besought the Lord that He would deign
to show me when I am His servant and when
not. For nought else do I desire but always
to be His servant. But the most gracious
Lord of His condescension did make answer
unto me : c Know that thou art truly my
servant while thou thinkest, speakest, and
doest holy things. Wherefore have I called
you brethren together and notified ye hereof
to the intent that I may be shamed before ye
whensoever ye shall see me fail in any or in
all of the said respects."
LXXV. How he would THE lukewarm,
by all means that all the that did never apply
brethren should some* them earnestly and
umes^ labour with their humbly to an / busi .
ness, he said would
quickly be vomited forth out of the mouth of
133
Saint Francis of Assisi
God. No idle man might ever appear in his
sight but he would straightway rebuke him
with a biting tooth. Forasmuch as he him
self, the ensample of all perfection, did humbly
toil with his hands, allowing nought of the
most precious gift of time to run to waste.
For he said : " I will that all my brethren
should labour and exercise them humbly in
good works so as that we be less burdensome
to men, and that neither heart nor tongue
rove abroad in idleness. Let them that know
nothing learn to work."
Howbeit he said that the gain and the
wages of the labour should be left to the
judgment, not of the labourer, but to the
judgment of the warden or of the family.
34
Saint Francis of Assist
THE FIFTH PART, OF HIS ZEAL
IN THE PERFECTING OF THE
RULE AND TOWARD THE
WHOLE RELIGION.
LXX VI. How he praised THAT perfect cham -
the profession of the Rule, pion and lover of
and would that the t h e observance of
brethren should know the Hol Gospel, the
sa * nd ta ^ 1 theMo Blessed Francis, did
and die therewithal. , .
most ardently strive
for the common profession of our Rule, which
is nought other than the perfect observance of
the Gospel, and did endow with a special beni-
son all them that are and shall be true cham
pions thereof.
For this our profession, would he say unto
his imitators, is the book of life, the hope of
salvation, the earnest of glory, the marrow of
the Gospel, the way of the Cross, the estate
of perfection, the key of paradise, and the con
dition of the everlasting covenant. This he
would should be held of all and known of all,
and he would that the brethren in their dis
courses together should avoid weariness by
oftentimes conferring thereupon, and in
remembrance of the oath they had taken
should full oft hold converse with the inner
man as concerning the same.
MS
Saint Francis of Assist
He taught them, moreover, ever to carry it
before their eyes in perpetual memory, to
remind them of the life they should lead and
of due observance of the Rule, and, what is
more, it was his will and teaching that the
brethren should die therewith.
LXXVII.-0 a holy lay WHEREFORE, of
man that was martyred t hi s holy document
holding the Rule in his and institute of the
most blessed father
was a certain lay-brother not forgetful, whom
we do without doubt believe to have been
received into the choir of the martyrs. For,
whilst that by reason of his zeal for martyrdom
he was among the infidels, and was in the end
led forth by the Saracens to martyrdom, hold
ing the Rule with great fervour in both hands,
and humbly bending his knees, he said unto
his companion : " Of all things that I have
done contrary to this Rule, my dearest brother,
before the eyes of the divine majesty and before
thee do I confess me guilty." To this brief
confession succeeded the sword whereby ending
his life he won the crown of martyrdom. This
brother it was that had entered the Order
while as yet but a lad, and scarce could endure
the fasting of the Rule, yet, natheless, stripling
as he was, he wore a coat of mail next his skin.
Saint Francis of Assisi
Happy the boy that did thus happily begin and
no less happily end !
LX XVI II. How he THE Blessed Francis
would the Religion should sa id . J w {\\ go anc j
always be under the pro- commen d the Reli-
1 |ion of the brethren
Minor to the Holy
Roman Church, by the rod of whose power
they that wish it evil may be terrified and
chastised, and the sons of God may everywhere
rejoice in full liberty to the increase of everlast
ing salvation. May her sons thereby learn to
be grateful for the sweet blessings of their
Mother, and evermore follow her reverend
footsteps with devoutness of spirit !
" For under her protection shall no evil
befall the Order nor shall the son of Belial go
through the vineyard of the Lord unpunished.
The Holy Mother herself shall emulate the
glory of our poverty, and will not in any wise
allow the renown of our humility and the
triumph of our obedience to be darkened by
the clouds of pride. The chains of charity
and peace wherewith we are bounden will she
preserve unbroken, smiting them that disagree
with her as with her smartest censure, and the
sacred observance of Gospel purity shall
flourish daily in her sight, nor will she suffer
137
Saint Francis of Assisi
the sweet smell of our good report and of our
holy conversation to be given forth in vain."
LXXIX.-Of the four THE Blessed Francis
prerogatives that God did sa jd t h a t he had
confer upon the Religion obtained from thc
anddidannounceuntothe Lord thege four
Blessed Francis. things, and that the
same had been announced unto him by an
angel, to wit, that the Religion and pro
fession of the brethren Minor should not fail
even unto the Day of Judgment ; also that
none who did knowingly persecute the Order
should live long; also that no wicked man
that was minded to live wickedly in the
Order should be able to abide long therein ;
also, that whosoever shall of his heart love the
Order, howsoever he may have sinned shall at
the last find mercy.
LXXX. Of the condi- So great was the
tions that he said were zea l he had for the
necessary in a Minister preserving of perfec-
General and in his com* Reljgion
and so great seemed
him to be the perfection of the profession of
the Rule, that his thoughts did often run
upon who should be after his death sufficient
138
Saint Francis of Assisi
to the government of the whole Religion,
and the preservation by God s assistance of
perfection therein, yet none could he find
fitting.
Whence, nigh the end of his life, a certain
brother said unto him : " Father, thou wilt
go hence unto the Lord, and this family that
followeth thee will abide in the vale of tears :
notify therefore unto us if any there be in
the Order thou knowest in whom thy spirit
can find rest, and upon whom the burden of
the Minister General may worthily be laid."
The Blessed Francis made answer, and all
his words were the weightier for his sighs :
" My son, the captain of an army so great
and made up of so many manner of men, the
shepherd of a flock so huge and so scattered
abroad, do I behold none that is sufficient to
be ; yet one will I picture for you in whom
shall be seen clearly such an one as the
captain and shepherd of this family ought
to be.
<c This man," saith he, " ought to be one of
most grave life, of great discretion, of laudable
report, without private affections, lest while he
loveth a part more dearly, he breed scandal to
the whole. The study of prayer ought he to
hold dear, but so as that he distribute certain
hours to his own soul and certain others to
his flock, for the first thing in the morning
139
Saint Francis of Assist
ought he set before all things the most holy
sacrifice of the Mass, and therein by long
devotion most lovingly to commend himself
and the flock to the divine protection. But
after prayer let him set him in the midst to be
plucked and pilled of all, ready to make
answer to all and to make provision for all
with charity and patience and gentleness.
"One ought he to be that accepteth the
person of none, so that no less heed shall he
pay to the simple and foolish than to the
knowing and wise. Unto whom if the gift
of knowledge be granted, yet in his dealings
let him rather bear the stamp of piety and
simplicity, patience and humility, and let
him cherish godliness in himself and in others,
and in preaching godliness let him evermore
practise the same, inciting others thereunto
rather by his ensample than by his sermons.
Let him be a blasphemer of money, the which
is the chiefest source of corruption to our
profession and perfection, and as the head and
pattern to be imitated of all, let him in no
wise give rise unto abuse by multiplying of
money-boxes.
" Let it be enough for him as for himself
to have his habit and his little book - 9 for
others his little basket with a reed, his tablets
and a seal. Let him not be a heaper up of
books nor overmuch given to reading, lest
140
Saint Francis of Assisi
haply he derogate from his office that cometh
before his study. Let him pitifully console
the afflicted, seeing that this is the last remedy
of them that suffer tribulation, lest in case he
have not wherewith to supply the remedies of
health the desperateness of the disease do prevail
over them that are sick. That he may bend
the froward to tractableness let him prostrate
himself, and remit somewhat of his rightful
due that thereby he may make gain of a soul.
" Unto the runagates of the Order, as unto
sheep that have perished, let him deny not
the bowels of pity, nor never refuse them
mercy, knowing that so overpowering be the
temptations that can drive them to so great a
downfall, that were the Lord to permit him
to be tried thereby himself, haply he might
slide down toward an even steeper precipice.
I would that he should be honoured by all
with all devotion arid reverence as the vicar
of Christ, and that in all things and by all
provision should be made for him with all
goodwill, having regard to his necessity and
the meanness of our estate.
" Nevertheless doth it behove him not to
look kindly upon honours, nor to take delight
in favours more than in injuries, so that his
behaviour be not changed by honours save for
the better. But in case at any time he
should be in need of more palatable and better
141
Saint Francis of Assisi
food, let him take it not by stealth but in the
public place, so that others may have no
shame in providing them with the like in
their ailments and infirmities.
" Specially needful is it that he be able to
detect the secrets of conscience and to search
out the truth from hidden sources. All accu
sations at the outset let him hold suspect until
the truth by diligent examination doth begin
to appear. But let him not lend ear to bab
blers ; in accusations specially, let him hold
them suspect and believe them not easily.
Lastly, such an one ought he to be as never in
any wise to warp nor relax the manly rule of
equity and justice through covetousness of
retaining office ; yet so nevertheless, as that
the soul of none shall be slain by excess of
rigour ; nor of excess of mildness let luke-
warmness be born, nor let dissolution of disci
pline be the outcome of an over-ready pardon.
So let him be feared of all as that he may be
loved of them that fear. Let him always think
and feel that his office of superior is more of a
burden than an honour unto him.
" I would, therefore, that he should have
companions endowed with honesty, austere as
against their own wills, brave in times of need,
pitiful and compassionate toward them that
offend, having an equal affection toward all,
receiving nought for their labour save only
Saint Francis of Assisi
just enough for the pure necessities of the
body, and desirous of nought save the praise of
God, the profit of the Order, the merit of
their own souls and the perfect salvation of
all the brethren, becomingly courteous toward
all, and all becomingly courteous toward
them, with holy cheerfulness receiving both the
form and ensample of observance of the Gospel
according to the profession of the Rule in
their own persons purely and simply, and
manifesting the same to all. Behold, I say,
such an one ought the Minister General to be,
and such companions ought he to have."
LXXXL How the Lord FORASMUCH as ac-
spake unto him when he cording to the mea-
was sore afflicted by reason sure of the zeal that
o the brethren that did he had continuall
decline from perfection. for ^ perfecdon ^
the Religion, he could not but be made sad
whensoever he did hear of or see any imper
fection therein, when he began to understand
that certain brethren gave an ill ensample in
the Religion, and that the brethren generally
had begun to decline from the topmost sum
mit of their profession, inwardly smitten with
passing grief of heart, he said unto the Lord
once in prayer : " Lord, unto Thee do I
resign the family that Thou didst give me."
H3
Saint Francis of Assisi
And the Lord said straightway unto him :
" Tell me, O thou simple and foolish manni-
kin, wherefore dost thou sorrow so sore when
some man goeth forth of the Religion and
when the brethren walk not by the way that
I did show thee ? Tell me, moreover, who
was it that planted this Religion of the
brethren ? Who is it that maketh a man be
converted to repentance ? Who is it that
giveth him strength to persevere therein ? Is
it not I ? I chose thee not over My family
for that thou wert a man learned and eloquent,
forasmuch as I willed not that thou nor they
that were true brethren and true observers of
the Rule that I did give unto thee should walk
in the way of learning and eloquence. But I
chose thee, simple and foolish as thou art, that
both thou and others may know how it is I
that shall keep watch over My flock, and I
have set thee as a sign unto them that the
works which I work in thee, they also should
work in themselves. For they that walk in
the way that I have showed unto thee, have
Me, and Me shall Jiey have yet more abun
dantly ; but they that will to walk in the
other way, from them shall be taken away
even that which they do seem to have.
" Wherefore I say unto thee, grieve not
thou so sore henceforth, but do that thou
doest, work that thou workest, seeing that in
H4
Saint Francis of Assist
abiding charity have I planted the Religion of
the brethren. Hence mayst thou know how
greatly I love them; if any one of the brethren,
returning to his vomit, shall die beyond the
pale of the Religion, another will I send into
the Religion that shall have his crown in his
stead, and if such an one be not yet born, yet
him will I make be born. And, that thou
mayst know how greatly I do love the life and
the Religion of the brethren of mine own free
will, were it so that in the whole Religion did
remain but three brethren only, yet even then
shall it be My Religion, and I will not forsake
it for ever ! "
And when he had heard these things, his
spirit did abide marvellously comforted. And
albeit for the passing zeal that he ever had for
the perfection of the Religion, he could not so
contain himself but that he should be mightily
grieved with all his heart when that he heard
of any fall from perfection among the brethren
whereby an evil example might be set or a
scandal arise, yet natheless, after that he had
been thus comforted of the Lord, he did call
to mind that word of the psalm : " c I have
sworn and I will perform it, that I will keep
Thy righteous judgments, and observe the
Rule that the Lord Himself did give unto me
and unto them that would imitate me.
"Moreover all the brethren have bound them
145 K
Saint Francis of Assisi
hereunto even as have I. And therefore after
that I did resign mine office over the brethren
by reason of mine infirmities and other reason
able causes, I am not henceforth held to aught
save only to pray for the Religion and to set
a good ensample unto the brethren ; for this
have I of the Lord and do know for a truth,
that even were it that mine infirmity excused
me not, the most help that I could render the
Religion is that every day I should give myself
to prayer unto the Lord for it, that He will
govern and preserve and protect the same.
For herein have I bound me unto the Lord
and unto the brethren, that and any one of
the brethren should perish through evil en^
sample of mine, I am willing to undertake that
the Lord should hold me answerable in his
stead."
These words he spake within himself to
quiet his own heart, and he himself moreover
did oftentimes expound the same unto the
brethren in discoursing on the words of
Scripture and in the Chapters.
Whence, if any brother should tell him at
any time that he ought to interfere in the
governing of the Order, he would make
answer, saying : " The brethren have their
Rule and have sworn to observe it, and that
they may have no excuse on my account, after
that it pleased the Lord to appoint me to be
146
Saint Francis of Assisi
superior over them, I did swear before them
that I myself in like manner would observe
the same. Whence, sithence that the brethren
know what they ought to do, and moreover,
what to avoid, nought remaineth save that I
should teach them by works, seeing that for
this was I given unto them in my life and
after my death."
LXXXH. Of the special BEYOND all other
zeal that he had unto the p l aces o f t h e Order,
place of the Blessed Mary a ial zeal and
of the Little Portion, and { fond _
of the ordinances that he u j u u- rr
made therein against idle ness had he , hls h u fe
words. lon g m making be
observed all perfec
tion of life and conversation in the holy place
of S. Mary of the Angels, as in the head and
mother of the whole Religion, intending and
willing that this place should be the pattern
and ensample of humility and poverty and
every Gospel perfection unto all other places,
and that the brethren therein abiding ought
ever to be beyond the rest of the brethren
circumspect and solicitous in doing and avoid
ing all such things as pertain unto a perfect
observance of the Rule.
Whence on a time, for the avoiding or
idleness that is the root of all evil, and espe-
147
Saint Francis of Assisi
daily in a Religious, on a certain day he
made ordinance that after meat, the brethren
together with himself should forthwith exer
cise them in some work, lest the good that
they had gained in time of prayer should be
wholly or in part wasted in vain and idle
words whereunto a man after meat is mostly
disposed.
Moreover he made ordinance and com
manded the same to be firmly observed, that
if any of the brethren doing nothing or at
work on anything should utter any idle word
among the brethren, he should be bound to
say one Pater Noster^ praising God at the
beginning and at the end of the prayer, but
so nevertheless, that if haply conscious of his
lapse, he should first have blamed himself for
that he had committed, he should say the
Pater Noster for his own soul with the Laudes
Domino as aforesaid, but and it were that he
should be first reproved thereof by one of the
brethren, he should be bound to say the Pater
Noster for the soul of the brother so reproving
him. But in case he that was reproved did
excuse himself and would not say the Pater
Noster^ he should in like manner be bound to
say two Pater Nosters for the soul of the
brother that did reprove him. But if on his
own or others witness it shall be proven true
that he did speak that idle word, he shall say the
148
Saint Francis of Assist
said Laudes Deo at the beginning and end of
the prayer loud enough to be heard or under
stood of all the brethren standing by, the
which brethren whilst that he sayeth the
same shall hold their peace and hearken there
unto. But in case any brother listening and
hearing a brother speak an idle word shall
hold his peace and shall not reprove him, let
him in like manner be held to say one Pater
Noster with the Laudes Deo for the soul of
him that speaketh the idle word.
And whatsoever brother entering a cell or
house or any place wherein he shall find another
brother or other brethren, he ought forthwith
to bless and praise God devoutly.
These Laudes Domino the most holy father
was ever careful himself to say, and with most
earnest will and desire did teach and incite
the other brethren to say the same lauds heed-
fully and devoutly.
LXXXIIL-How he did ALBEIT the Blessed
admonish the brethren Francis knew that
that they should never the Kingdom of
forsake this place. Heayen g^ been
stablished in every quarter of the earth and
did believe that in every place the grace of
God might be given unto His elect, yet nathe-
less, did he know by experience that the place
149
Saint Francis of Assisi
of the Blessed Mary of the Little Portion
was fulfilled of more abundant grace and was
haunted by the visitation of heavenly spirits
from on high.
For this reason would he often say unto the
brethren : " See, O my sons, that never do ye
forsake this place. If that ye be thrust forth
on the one side, enter ye by the other, for this
place is holy and the dwelling place of Christ
and of the Virgin His Mother. Here when
we were few did the Most High give us
increase j here by the light of His wisdom did
He enlumine the souls of His poor ; here by
the fire of His love did He kindle our wills.
Here, whosoever shall pray with a devout
heart, shall obtain that which he doth desire,
and he that doth offend shall the more griev
ously be punished. Wherefore, O my sons,
hold ye this place most worthy of all reverence
and honour, as in very truth the dwelling place
of God, specially beloved of Him and of His
Mother ; and therein with all your heart,
with the voice of exultation and of confession,
confess ye to God the Father and to His Son
our Lord Jesus Christ in the unity of the
Holy Spirit!"
ISO
Saint Francis of Assist
LXXXIV,-Of the pre- Holy of Holies is this
rogatives that the Lord Place of Places,
wrought in the place of {Meetly held worthy of
S. Mary of the Angels. surpassing honour !
Happy thereof the surname, " Of the Angels"
Happier yet the name, " T4e Blessed tMary."
Now, a true omen, the third name conferreth
" The Little "Portion " on the Little Brethren,
Here, where by night a presence oft of jtngels
Singing sweet hymns illumine th the watches.
Fallen it lay when Francis did upraise it,
Of the three churches his own hand rebuilded
Choosing this one wherein to don the sack- cloth,
finding the Jlesh in fetters of the spirit.
Here in this holy precinct was begotten
Erstwhile our Order of the Brethren fMinor ;
Here shall be found that throng of saints for ever
Whilst they still take ens ample of their father.
First to be shorn as vowed to Christ her Lover,
Clara did here forsake the world to jind Him,
{Mother of noble brethren and of sisters
Bringing back Christ to men through their
endeavour.
Here was the old world* s broad highway made
narrow,
Here the way broader for the Chosen People ;
Here grew the Rule; here Poverty, our Lady,
Smiting down pride, called back the Cross
amongst us.
Saint Francis of Assisi
Francis sore troubled, weary of his burden,
Here fndeth peace; Ms sorrows here have
healing ;
Here is the truth made clear whereof he doubted^
Here all the father prayethfor is granted.
THE SIXTH PART, OF HIS ZEAL
FOR THE PERFECTION OF THE
BRETHREN,
LXXXV. And first, how THE most Blessed
he did describe unto them father, as it were
a perfect brother. transformed in some
sort into the holy brethren, out of the burning
of the love and the fervency of the zeal that
he had toward their perfection, did often
meditate within himself what were the condi
tions and virtues wherewith a good brother
Minor must needs be adorned. And he said
that a good brother Minor would be he that
had the life and conditions of these holy
brethren, to wit : the faith of brother Bernard,
that he had in absolute perfection along with
the love of poverty; the simplicity and purity
of brother Leo, that in truth was of a most
holy purity ; the courtesy of brother Angelo,
that was the first soldier to come into the
Order, and was fulfilled of all courtesy and
152
Saint Francis of Assist
kindness ; the gracious aspect and natural
sense with fair and devout eloquence of
brother Masseo j the mind lifted up in con
templation that brother Egidio had even to
the highest perfection ; the godly and con
tinual activity of the holy Rufinus, that did
always pray without intermission, so as that
even asleep or at work his mind was always
with the Lord; the patience of brother Juniper,
that did attain to a state of perfect patience
by reason of the perfect renunciation of his
own will that he did set before his eyes, and
his surpassing desire to imitate Christ by the
way of the Cross ; the bodily and spiritual
strength of brother John de Laudibus, that at
that time was strong in the body above all
men ; the charity of brother Rogero, whose
whole life and conversation was in the fer
vency of charity ; and the solicitude of brother
Lucido that was ever passing solicitous and
was never minded to stay in a place more
than a month or so, but when he liked staying
in any place would forthwith depart there
from, saying : " Not here but in Heaven is
our place of abiding."
153
Saint Francis of Assist
LXXXVL How he did AMONG the other
describe wanton eyes, that virtues that he loved
he might induce the and did desire should
brethren to honourable i , u ,
living. be m the brethren,
next to the founda
tion of holy humility he did chiefly love the
comeliness and cleanliness of chastity. Whence,
being minded to teach the brethren to have
chaste eyes, he was wont to figure wanton
eyes under this similitude. A King, pious
and powerful, sent to the Queen two messengers
the one after the other. The first returneth
and bringeth back the message word for word
and saith nought of the Queen, forasmuch as
he had wisely kept his eyes in his head so that
they had not leapt out were it never so little
toward the Queen. The other returneth and
after a few words doth begin to weave a long
history as concerning the beauty of the
Queen. " Verily, my lord," saith he, " a
passing fair woman have I seen ; happy he
that doth enjoy her ! "
And the King unto him : <c Thou wicked
servant, thou hast cast wanton eyes upon my
Queen ! It is clear that thou wouldst fain
have procured by craft that which thou didst
look upon ! "
He biddeth therefore the first be called and
saith unto him, " How seemeth unto thee of
the Queen ? " " Excellent well, meseemeth,"
154
Saint Francis of Assist
saith he, "for that she did willingly and
patiently hearken unto me." Thus wisely
made he answer, and the King saith unto
him : " Is there any comeliness in her or
not ? " He answereth : " My lord, to look
upon her comeliness is yours ; mine was it
only to carry the words of my message."
The King giveth sentence : " Thou," saith
he, c< hast chaste eyes, be thou in my chamber
yet more chaste of thy body, and enjoy
my delights. But let this wanton one go
forth of the house lest he pollute my
chamber ! "
He said therefore : " Who ought not be
afeard to look upon the Spouse of Christ ? "
LXXXVII.-Of three ON a time when by
words that he left unto reason of an infirmity
the brethren to preserve of the stomach he
their perfection. would ^ vomitj Qn
account of the exceeding great violence he did
unto himself, he vomited blood throughout all the
night until matins, and when his companions did
behold him die, as it were, through exceeding
weakness and affliction, with sore grief and
shedding of tears they said unto him: " Father,
what shall we do without thee ? Unto whom
wilt thou leave us orphans ? Thou hast ever
been a father and a mother unto us, begetting
155
Saint Francis of Assisi
and bringing us forth in Christ. Thou hast
been unto us a captain and shepherd, a master
and corrector, teaching and correcting us more
by ensample than by word ! Whither there
fore shall we go, sheep without a shepherd,
orphan sons without a father, rude men and
simple without a captain ?
" Whither shall we go seek thee, O glory
of poverty, praise of simplicity, honour of our
vileness ? Who hereafter shall show us blind
men the way of truth ? Where will be the
mouth that spake unto us and the tongue that
gave us counsel ? Where will be the fervent
spirit directing us in the way of the Cross,
and comforting us even unto Gospel per-"
fection ? Where wilt thou be, that we may
betake us unto thee, thou light of our eyes,
that we may seek thee out, thou comforter of
our souls ? Behold, thou diest, father ! Be
hold, thou dost thus leave us desolate, forsaking
us in our sadness and bitter loss !
" Behold, the day draweth nigh, the day of
weeping and bitterness, the day of desolation
and sorrow ! Lo, the bitter day that we have
dreaded to look upon ever sithence that we
were with thee, yea, that we could not even
think upon ! Truly, no marvel is this, for
thy life hath been unto us for a continual
light, and thy words for burning torches
lighting us evermore on the way of the Cross
156
Saint Francis of Assisi
to Gospel perfection, to the love and imitation
of the most sweet Crucified !
" Wherefore, father, at least give thy bless
ing unto us and unto thy other sons whom thou
hast begotten in Christ, and leave us some
memorial of thy will, that the brethren may
have thee ever in remembrance and may be
able to say : These words did our father
leave unto us his brethren and sons at his
death. "
Then did the most pitiful father turn his
fatherly eyes upon his sons, and said unto
them: "Call unto me brother Benedict de
Pirato." For that brother was a holy priest
and discreet, that did celebrate ,unto the
Blessed Francis whensoever he lay sick, for
that always when he was able, was he minded
to have or to hear Mass, howsoever feeble he
might be.
And when he had come, he said unto him :
" Write how that I do give my blessing unto
all my brethren that are in the Religion ana
unto them that shall come after even unto the
world s end. And, for that by reason of my
weakness and the pain of mine infirmity I am
not able to speak much, in these three words
do I briefly lay open my will and intention
unto all the brethren present and to be ; to
wit, that in token of my remembrance and
blessing and testament, let them evermore
157
Saint Francis of Assist
love one another even as I have loved them,
let them evermore love and observe our Lady
Poverty, and evermore be faithful and loyal
lieges to the prelates and clergy of Holy
Mother Church."
For thus was our father in the Chapters of
the brethren always wont at the end of the
Chapter to give his blessing and absolution to
all the brethren in the Religion present and
to come, and even out of Chapter in the fer
vency of his charity would he many a time do
the same. Moreover he would admonish the
brethren that they should dread all evil en-
sample and beware of following the same, and
his curse did he leave unto all them that by
evil ensample should provoke men to blaspheme
the Religion and life of the brethren, for that
good and holy poor men be thereby shamed
and sorely afflicted.
LXXXVIII. Of the love ONE night the
that he showed unto the Blessed Francis was
brethren when nigh his grieved so sore by
death by giving to each a the in of his
morsel of bread as did infirmities that as
that night he could
neither rest nor sleep. But on the morrow,
when his pains were some little abated, he
bade call all the brethren that were in the
158
Saint Francis of Assisi
place, and beholding them as they sate before
him, he did look upon them as though all the
brethren were there present in their persons.
And setting his right hand upon the head
of each, he gave his blessing unto all of the
Order, present, absent and to come even unto
the world s end. And he did seem as it were
to have compassion on himself for that he
might not look upon all his brethren and sons
before his death.
But for that he was fain in his own death
to imitate his Lord and Master, whom in his
life he had imitated perfectly, he bade breads
be brought unto him and blessed them, and
did make them be broken into many pieces,
for that by reason of his too great feebleness
he was not able himself to break them. And
taking the bread, he held forth a morsel unto
each of the brethren, enjoining him to eat the
whole thereof.
For even as our Lord before His death was
minded to eat with the apostles on the fifth
day of the week in token of His love, so was
the Blessed Francis, His perfect imitator, fain
to show his brethren the same token of his
love. And that he was fain to do this after
the similitude of Christ is clearly manifest
hereby, for that he did ask afterward whether
it were then the fifth day of the week.
But one of the brethren did reserve a morsel
59
Saint Francis of Assisi
of that bread and after the death of the Blessed
Francis, many sick folk that did taste thereof
were straightway healed of their infirmities.
LX XXIX. How he WHEN by reason or
feared lest any tribulation tne pain of his ail-
should befall the brethren ments he was not
by reason of his infirmi* ablg tQ take ^
and saw that thereby
the brethren were much distraught and wearied
on his account, for that hitherto he had ever
loved the souls of the brethren more than his
own body, he did begin to fear lest the brethren
out of their exceeding travail in attending to
his necessities might incur some offence, even
were it the least, against God by reason of
some impatience.
Whence on a time with pity and compassion
he said unto his companions : " My best-
beloved brethren and little children, let it not
be a weariness unto ye to travail on behalf of
mine infirmity, seeing that the Lord on be
half of me His little servant shall in this world
and the next repay ye all the fruit of those
your works that by reason of your solicitude
for my infirmity ye cannot now perform ;
yea, greater gain do ye hereby achieve than
were ye to labour for yourselves, seeing that
He which succoureth me doth succour the
1 60
Saint Francis of Assist
whole Religion and life of the brethren.
Yea, verily, ye may say thus : c Upon thee
do we spend our charges, and in thy stead
shall the Lord be a debtor unto us. "
But this the holy father said being fain to
succour and raise their drooping spirit for the
passing great zeal that he had toward the per
fection of his souls. For he feared lest they
might be tempted at times under stress of that
travail to say : " We cannot pray nor endure
so sore travail," and thus might become over
wearied and thereby impatient, so as that they
might haply be losers of great gain in return
for a small labour.
XC. How he did ad- AFTER that the
monish the sisters of Blessed Francis had
S. Clara, made his "Praises
unto the Lord of His creatures," he made also
certain holy words with music for the com
forting and edification of the Poor Ladies,
knowing that they were sore troubled by
reason of his infirmity. And for that he was
not able to visit them in person, he sent the
words unto them by the companions. For he
was fain in those words to lay open his will
unto them, to wit, how they ought to live
and converse humbly and be of one mind in
charity. For he perceived that their conversion
161 L
Saint Francis of Assisi
and holy conversation did not only tend to the
exaltation of the brethrens Religion but to
the exceeding great edification of the Church
Universal.
But knowing that from the beginning of
their conversion they had led a life passing
strait and poverty-stricken, he was moved with
pity and compassion toward them. Whence
in those same words he besought them that
even as the Lord from many parts had
assembled them together in one to holy
charity, holy poverty and holy obedience, so
ought they ever to live and to die therein.
A.nd specially did he admonish them that out
of such alms as the Lord might give them
they should discreetly make provision for their
bodies with cheerfulness and thanksgiving, and
most of all, how they that were heal in their
toils that they did undergo on behalf of their
sick sisters, and they themselves that were
sick should also be patient in their infirmities.
162
Saint Francis of Assisi
THE SEVENTH PART, OF HIS
CONTINUAL FERVENCY OF LOVE
AND COMPASSION TOWARD THE
PASSION OF CHRIST,
XCL And first, that he SucHwas the Blessed
paid no need unto his own Francis fervency of
infirmities for the love of i i y .
Christ s Passion. love ar ] d c passion
toward the pangs
and sufferings of Christ, and so sorely did he
daily afflict himself both inwardly and out
wardly on account of the Passion itself, that
he heeded not his own infirmities. Whence
albeit that of a long time and unto his dying
day he suffered ailments of the stomach and
liver and spleen, and from the time that he
returned from beyond sea had continual
exceeding great pain of the eyes, yet would
he never thereof take any pains to make him
be heal.
Whence the lord Bishop of Ostia seeing
that he was and ever had been so austere as
concerning his own body, and most of all for
that he had begun already to lose the sight of
his eyes and for that he was not minded to
make him be healed thereof, did with much
pity and compassion admonish him, saying :
" Brother, thou dost not well in that thou dost
163
Saint Francis of Assisi
not make thee be healed, for thy life and health
be of exceeding great usefulness to the brethren
and lay-folk and to the whole Church. For
seeing that thou hast compassion on thy sick
brethren, and hast ever been pitiful and
merciful-hearted toward them, thou oughtest
not to be cruel unto thyself in so sore neces
sity. Wherefore I do enjoin thee that thou
make thee be healed and succoured."
For the most holy father himself did always
take aught bitter as it had been sweet, for that
he did evermore draw forth a passing great
sweetness from the humility and the footprints
of the Son of God.
XCII. How he was found NOT long after his
going bewailing in a loud conversion when he
voice the Passion of was W alking on a
Christ. time on the way not
far from the church of the Blessed Mary of
the Little Portion, he went making lamenta
tion in a loud voice. But a certain spiritual
man met him, and fearing that he had a pain
from some sickness, said unto him : " What
aileth thee, brother ? " But he made answer :
" Thus ought I to go throughout the whole
world without shame, bewailing the Passion
of my Lord."
Thereupon he also did begin to lament sore
164
Saint Francis of Assisi
and to shed tears. This man we knew and
understood this from himself, and much com
fort and pity did he make for the Blessed
Francis and for us his companions.
XCIIL How the joyous DRUNKEN with the
songs that he did some^ love and compassion
times make out of doors of Christ, the Blessed
would be turned into tears Francis would at
and pity for Christ. dmes do such _ like
things as this ; for the passing sweet melody of
the spirit within him, seething over outwardly
did oftentimes find utterance in the French
tongue, and the strain of the divine whisper
that his ear had caught would break forth into
a French song of joyous exulting. At times
he would pick up a stick from the ground and
setting it upon his left shoulder, would draw
another stick after the manner of a bow with
his right hand athwart the same as athwart a
viol or other instrument, and making befitting
gestures would sing in French of our Lord
Jesus Christ. But all this show of joyance
would be ended in tears and the exultation
would die out in pity of Christ s Passion.
And in tears would he abide, drawing deep
sighs and with redoubled lamentations would
he hang suspended from heaven, forgetful of
that which he did hold in his hands the while
Saint Francis of Assist
THE EIGHTH PART, OF HIS ZEAL
TOWARD PRAYER AND THE
DIVINE WORK, AND TOWARD
OBSERVING SPIRITUAL GLAD
NESS IN HIMSELF AND OTHERS,
XCIV* And first, of ALBEIT that for
prayer and the Divine many years he was
Office, afflicted with the
said infirmities, yet natheless so devout was he
and reverent at his orisons and at the Divine
Office, that at such time as he was praying or
even saying his canonical Hours, never would
he lean against a wall or the jamb of a door,
but would always stand upright and bare
headed, or at times upon his knees ; and all
the more for that the greater part of the day
and night he did give himself up to prayer ;
yea, when he went about the world afoot, he
would always stand still when he would say his
Hours, and if it were that he were riding by
reason of his infirmities, yet would he always
alight to say the Office.
Hence, on a time when it was raining
exceeding heavily and he by reason of his
infirmity and passing great necessity was rid
ing a- horseback, when that he was already all
bathed in wet, he alighted of his horse when
1 66
Saint Francis oi Assist
he would say his Hours, and with as great
fervency of devotion and reverence said tht
Office thus standing in the road with the rain
continually pouring upon him as had he been
in a church or a cell. And saith he to his
companion : " If the body would fain eat his
meat, that with the body itself doth become
the food of worms, in peace and quiet, with
how much quiet and peace and with how
great reverence and devotion ought the soul
to receive the food that is God Himself ! "
XCV. How he ever loved HEREIN had the
in himself and others both Blessed Francis
inward and outward al s his highest
spiritual cheerfulness. ^ 7 chiefest udy ^
that apart from prayer and the Divine Office
he should maintain both inwardly and out
wardly a spiritual cheerfulness. And this in
like manner did he specially love in the
brethren, yea, oftentimes did he reprove them
for their mourn fulness and melancholy.
For he would say that " and the servant of
God would study to have and to keep both
inwardly and outwardly the spiritual cheerful
ness that ariseth out of cleanness of heart, and
is obtained by devoutness of prayer, the devils
have no power to do him a hurt, saying;
c For that the servant of God hath cheerful-
Saint Francis of Assist
ness in tribulation and in prosperity, we can
find no entrance whereby to enter into him,
nor to do him a hurt. But then do the devils
exult when they are able to quench or to
hinder by any means soever the devoutness
and cheerfulness that do arise from simple
prayer and other godly works.
" For if that the Devil may have aught ot
his own in the servant of God, save he be
wise and heedful at once to destroy and do
away therewith by virtue of holy prayer, con
trition, confession and satisfaction, in a short
time out of a single hair he maketh a beam
by evermore adding thereunto. Therefore,
my brethren, for that this spiritual cheerful
ness doth proceed from cleanness of heart and
the purity of continual prayer, special heed
should be given to the acquiring and pre
serving of these two things, that ye may have
both inwardly and outwardly the cheerfulness
which with exceeding affection I do desire
to see and to feel both in myself and in you, to
the edification or our neighbour and to the
disgrace of our enemy. For unto the enemy and
unto his limbs doth it pertain to be sorrowful,
but unto us always to rejoice and be glad in
the Lord."
168
Saint Francis of Assisi
XCVL How he did THE Blessed Francis
rebuke a companion that sa id : Seeing that
was sad in the face, j know how the
devils do envy me by reason of the blessings
that the Lord hath granted unto me, I do
know also and see that as they cannot do me
a hurt through mine own self, they do lie in
wait and study how to do me a hurt through
my companions. But if it be that they can
do me no hurt, neither through myself nor
my companions, they do flee away in sore
confusion. Yea, and I were at any time
tempted or melancholy, when I do perceive
the cheerfulness of my companion, then
straightway by occasion of his cheerfulness,
am I turned back from temptation and
melancholy to inward and outward cheerful
ness."
For this reason did the father himself sorely
rebuke them that made an outward show of
sadness. For on a certain time he rebuked
one of the companions that did appear with a
sorrowful countenance. And he saith unto
him : " Why showest thou outwardly this
dolour and sadness on account of thine offences ?
Keep this sadness to thyself and God only,
and pray Him of His mercy that He forgive
thee and restore to thy soul the healthy joy-
ance whereof it hath been deprived as a
punishment for thy sin. But before me and
169
Saint Francis of Assist
others be heedful ever to have cheerfulness,
for it becometh not a servant of God before
his brother or any other to show sadness and
a troubled countenance."
Not that it is to be understood or believed
that our father, the lover of all gravity and
decency, would desire this cheerfulness to be
shown in laughter or even in the least idle
word, forasmuch as hereby it is not spiritual
cheerfulness that is shown, but rather vanity
and folly ; yea, in the servant of God he did
specially abhor laughter and idle speech, for
he would that the servant of God should not
only not lau^h himself, but should not afford
to others the least occasion for laughter.
Whence in a certain admonition he did more
clearly define what ought to be the cheerful
ness of a servant of God, for saith he :
" Blessed is the Religious that hath no joyous-
ness nor gladness save only in the most holy
words and works of the Lord and therewithal
provoketh men into the love of God in joy
and gladness. And woe unto the Religious
that doth delight in vain and idle words and
therewithal provoketh men unto laughter."
By cheerfulness of countenance, therefore,
he did understand the fervency and solicitude
and disposition and preparation of mind and
body to do all good work with a good will,
for that by a fervency and disposition of this
170
Saint Francis of Assist
kind others are at times more readily pro
voked to do the like than by the good deed
itself. Yea, be the deed never so good, and
it seem not done of a good will and a warm
heart, it rather begetteth weariness than pro-
voketh unto good.
And therefore did it irk him to see sadness
in the face, that doth too often represent
melancholy and indisposition of mind and
idleness of body in every good work. But
gravity and seriousness in countenance and in
all the members and senses of the body he did
ever specially love in himself and others, and
unto this as far as in him lay did he incite
others both by word and example.
For he knew by experience that gravity and
modesty of manner of this kind is as it were
a wall and passing strong shield against the
arrows of the Devil, and that the soul with
out the protection of this wall and shield is as
a soldier naked in the midst of enemies exceed
ing strong and armed unto the teeth, con
tinually raging and bent upon his death.
XCVII. How he taught THE most holy
the brethren to satisfy the father, perceiving
necessities of the body, an( j understanding
lest prayer should be lost. ^ the body was
created for the soul, and that bodily acts ought to
171
Saint Francis of Assist
be done for the sake of spiritual acts, spake thus:
" The servant of God in eating and drinking
and sleeping and supplying the other neces
sities of the body, ought to satisfy his body
with discretion, in such sort as that Brother
body shall have no right to murmur saying :
c I cannot stand upright and attend to prayer,
nor be cheerful in tribulations of the mind,
nor work other good works for that thou
dost not satisfy my needs.
"For if that the servant of God were to
satisfy his body with discretion and in a manner
enough good and decent, and Brother body
were to be negligent and sluggish and sleepy
in prayer, in vigils and in good works, then
ought he to chastise him as a bad. and lazy
mule, for that he is willing enough to eat, but
unwilling to be of any profit and carry his
burden. But if by reason of want and poverty
Brother body cannot have what is necessary
unto him in health and sickness, when he hath
asked humbly and honestly of his brother or
his superior for the love of God, and it is not
given unto him, let him endure it patiently for
the love of God that did Himself endure the
same, that did seek one to comfort Him and
found him not. And this necessity borne
with patience shall be counted unto him of
the Lord for martyrdom. And, for that he
did that which he ought, to wit, ask humbly,
172
Saint Francis of Assist
his necessity is excused of the Lord, even
though the body be full sore enfeebled there-
by."
THE NINTH PART, OF CERTAIN
TEMPTATIONS THAT THE LORD
DID ALLOW TO BEFALL HIM,
XCVIIL And first, how WHAT time the
the devil did ei- cer into a Blessed Francis in
pillow that he had under t h e hermitage at
his head, Greccio was so
journing to pray in the last cell beyond the
greater cell, on a certain night in the first
sleep, he called his companion that lay nigh
him, and the companion rising up went to the
vestibule of the cell where the Blessed Francis
lay, and the saint said unto him : " Brother, I
have not been able to sleep to-night, nor to
stand upright to pray, for my head and my
legs do tremble sore and meseemeth I have
eaten bread kneaded of tares."
And when the companion spake unto him
words of compassion, the Blessed Francis said :
" I do verily believe that the devil is in this
pillow that I have at mine head." For albeit
that he would never lie on feathers nor have a
feather pillow from the time that he had left
173
Saint Francis of Assisi
the world, yet the brethren had at that time
compelled him against his will to have that
pillow by reason of the infirmity in his eyes.
He flung it therefore at his companion, but
the companion catching it with his right
hand did set it upon his left shoulder, and
when he had gone out of the vestibule of the
cell, straightway he lost his speech, and was
not able to loose the pillow nor to move his
limbs, but stood there upright, unable to
move from the place, and without any feeling
in him. But when he had thus stood for some
space, by God s grace the Blessed Francis
called him and straightway he returned unto
him, letting fall the pillow behind his back.
And when he had come back to the Blessed
Francis he notified unto him all that had
befallen him, and, saith the Blessed Francis :
" Last evening when I was saying Complines
I felt the devil come into the cell. Whereby
I do perceive that this devil is passing crafty,
forasmuch as that not being able to do a hurt
unto my soul, he is fain to hinder a necessity
of my body in such sort as that I cannot sleep
nor stand upright at prayer, and by this means
to hinder the devoutness and cheerfulness of
my heart so as that thereby I should murmur
as concerning mine infirmity."
74
Saint Francis of Assisi
XCIX. Of an exceeding WHILST he was
sore temptation that he had abiding in the place
for more than two years. of S> Mary an ex _
ceeding strong temptation was sent upon him
for the profit of his soul. Thereby was he so
sore afflicted in mind and body that many a
time would he withdraw him from the com
pany of the brethren for that he could not
show himself unto them as cheerful as was his
wont. Natheless he did afflict himself by
abstinence from meat and drink and words,
did pray instantly and shed abundant tears that
the Lord would deign to send him a sufficient
remedy in tribulation so sore.
When he had been thus afflicted more than
two years, it befell that on a certain day
whilst that he was praying in the Church of
S. Mary, that word of the Gospel was spoken
unto him in spirit : " If ye have faith as a
grain of mustard-seed, ye shall say unto this
mountain, Remove hence to yonder place,
and it shall remove."
The Blessed Francis made answer : cc Lord,
what is this mountain ? " And it was said
unto him : " This mountain is thy tempta
tion." And S. Francis said : " Therefore, O
Lord, be it unto me as Thou hast spoken ! "
Straightway he was set free so perfectly
as that it seemed him he had never had any
temptation at all. In like manner on the
175
Saint Francis of Assisi
holy mount Alverna whereon he did receive
the stigmata of the Lord in his body, he did
suffer temptations and tribulations of the
devils so that he could not show him cheerful
as was his wont. For he said unto his com
panion : " Did the brethren only know how
many and how sore be the tribulations and
afflictions wherewith the devils do persecute
me, there is not one of them but would be
moved with pity and compassion toward
C, Of the temptation that Two years before
he had through mice, his death, when he
whereof the Lord did com, was at S> Damian s
fort him and did certify {n a cemin
him of His kingdom.
ties and was exceeding sore afflicted by the
infirmity of his eyes, so as that by the space
of sixty days and more he could not see the
light of day nor even the light of fire, it came
to pass by divine permission that for increase
of his affliction and his merit so many mice
did come into the cell as that running over
him and about him by night and day they
allowed him neither to pray nor to rest. Yea,
when he did eat, they came upon his table
and did infest him in multitudes, whereby
both he and his companions did know mani
festly that it was a temptation of the devil.
176
Saint Francis of Assist
The Blessed Francis seeing himself thus
tormented by so many afflictions, on a certain
night, moved with pity of his own case, said
within himself: "Lord, look upon me and
succour me in mine infirmities that I may
endure them in patience."
And straightway it was said unto him in
spirit : " Tell me, brother, if a certain man in
return for these thine infirmities and tribula
tions would give thee a treasure so great and
precious as that in respect of that mighty
treasure the whole earth were as nought,
wouldst thou not greatly rejoice thereat ? "
And the Blessed Francis made answer :
" Great, verily, O Lord, would be that trea
sure, and full precious, yea, altogether admir
able and desirable."
And again he heard One saying unto him :
"Therefore, brother, be glad and rejoice in
thine infirmities and tribulations, and as for
the rest, take thou no more heed than if thou
hadst already entered into My Kingdom ! "
And rising up in the morning he said unto
his companions : " If the Emperor should
give a whole realm to one of his servants,
would not that servant rejoice greatly ? But
and if he should give him his whole Empire,
would he not much more rejoice ? " More
over he said unto them : " Therefore meet
is it that I rejoice greatly in mine infirmi-
177 M
Saint Francis of Assisi
ties and tribulations, and take comfort in the
Lord, giving thanks unto God the Father and
His only Son our Lord Jesus Christ and to
the Holy Ghost of so great grace as the Lord
hath done me, to wit, that He hath con
descended unto me His unworthy servant
still living in the flesh, to certify me as con
cerning His Kingdom. Whence am I fain
unto His praise and our consolation and the
edification of our neighbour, to make a new
song of praise as concerning those creatures
of the Lord whereof we do every day make
use and without whom we are not able to
live, and in the which mankind doth sorely
offend his Creator. For continually do we
show ourselves ungrateful for so great grace
and so many blessings, not praising the Lord
our Creator and giver of all good things as
we ought."
And sitting down he began to meditate
awhile and afterward he said : " Most higb^
almighty and most gracious Lord" and the rest,
and made music thereupon, and did teach his
companions how they should say and sing the
same.
For his spirit as at that time was in so great
comfort and sweetness that he was fain to send
for brother Pacifico that in the world was
called the King of Verse and the right cour
teous Doctor of Singers, and he was fain to
178
Saint Francis of Assisi
give him sundry of the brethren to go with
him throughout the world preaching and sing
ing the praises of the Lord. For he said he
would that he among them which did know
best how to preach should first preach unto
the people, and that after the preaching all
should sing together the praises of the Lord
as it were minstrels of the Lord.
And when the Lauds were ended, he would
that the preacher should say unto the people :
" We be the minstrels of the Lord, and this
largesse do we crave of you, to wit, that ye
shall be in the state of true repentance."
And saith he : " For what be the servants of
God but certain minstrels of His that so lift
up the hearts of men and move them to
spiritual gladness ? "
And specially did he say this of the brethren
Minor, that are given unto the people of God
for the salvation thereof.
179
Saint Francis of Assisi
THE TENTH PART, OF THE
SPIRIT OF PROPHECY,
CL And first, how he did AFTER that the
foretell that peace would Blessed Francis had
be made between the compose d the said
Bishop and the High Lauds of thfi cra _
Bailiff of Assisi in virtue , ,.,
of the Lauds that he had <"*** Q he M f
made as concerning the cal1 The Son g of
creatures, the which he the Sun, it came
did make be sung by his to pass that a great
companions before them. dissension arose be
twixt the Bishop
and the High Bailiff of the city of Assisi, in
such sort that the Bishop did excommunicate
the High Bailiff, and the High Bailiff made
be proclaimed that none should sell aught to
the Bishop nor buy anything of him nor
enter into any contract whatsoever with him.
The Blessed Francis what time he was
thus sick and had heard this, was moved to pity
upon them, and most of all for that none did
interpose betwixt them to make peace. And
he saith unto his companions : " Great shame
is it unto us servants of God that the Bishop
and the High Bailiff do thus hate one another,
and that none doth interpose to make them at
peace." And straightway he did make a verse
180
Saint Francis of Assisi
in the said Lauds upon that occasion, saying
thus :
" Praised be Thou, O my Lord, of them that
do show forgiveness for love of Thee,
And do endure sickness and tribulation.
Yea, blessed be they that shall endure in peace
For of Thee, O Thou most highest, shall they
be crowned"
Afterward, he called one of his companions
and saith unto him : " Go to the High
Bailiff, and tell him on my behalf to come
unto the Bishop s house, himself with the
magnates of the City and as many more as he
can bring with him."
And when the brother was gone, he said
unto other twain of his companions : " Go ye
unto the presence of the Bishop and the High
Bailiff and the others that are with them, and
chant ye the Song of Brother Sun, and I have
trust in the Lord that He will forthwith
humble their hearts and that they shall
thereby be brought back to their former love
and friendship."
And when all were assembled together in
the Piazza of the cloister of the episcopate,
those two brethren rose up and one of them
said : " The Blessed Francis in his sickness hath
made a Lauds of the Lord as concerning His
181
Saint Francis of Assisi
creatures to the praise of the Lord Himselt
and to the edification of our neighbour.
Whence he doth beseech you that ye will
hearken thereunto with great devoutness."
And therewithal they did begin to say and
sing the same.
But the High Bailiff straightway rose up
with hands and arms joined together and did
hearken intently thereunto as unto the Gospel
of the Lord with exceeding great devotion
and with many tears, for great faith had he
and devotion toward the Blessed Francis.
And when the Lauds of the Lord were
ended, the High Bailiff said before them all :
" In truth I say unto you that not only my
Lord Bishop whom I do desire and ought to
have for my Lord, but were it one that had
slain mine own brother or my son, him would
I forgive ! " And so saying, he did fling him
down at the Bishop s feet and said unto him :
"Behold, I am ready in all things to make
satisfaction unto thee as thou shalt please, for
the love of our Lord Jesus Christ and of His
servant, the Blessed Francis ! "
But the Bishop accepting him, did lift him
up with his hands and said unto him :
" According unto mine office meet is it that
I be humble, and for that by nature I be
swift to wrath meet is it also that thou shouldst
pardon me." And on this wise with great
182
Saint Francis of Assisi
kindness and love did they embrace and
kiss the one the other.
But the brethren were amazed and rejoiced
beholding that which the Blessed Francis had
foretold as to their concord thus fulfilled to
the letter. And all they that were present,
did ascribe all this as a miracle exceeding
great unto the merits of the Blessed Francis,
that the Lord had so suddenly visited them
and that from so great discord and scandal
they had returned to so great concordance
without recalling a single word that had been
spoken.
But we that were with the Blessed Francis
do bear witness that when he did say of aught
"Thus and thus will it be," the same did
always come to pass to the letter, and so
many and so great things of this kind have we
seen that it would be long to write them or to
tell.
CII. How he foresaw the THERE was a cer-
fall of a brother that would t a j n brother, out-
not confess under the pre- war dly of honest and
tence of silence. h Q j y conversat i ori)
that day and night did seem to be intent upon
prayer, and did so straitly observe continual
silence as that sometimes when he did confess
him to the priest, he made his confession by
183
Saint Francis of Assist
certain signs and not by words. For so
devout and fervent in the love of God did he
seem to be, that when he was sitting at times
with the brethren albeit he spake not, he
would natheless rejoice greatly both inwardly
and outwardly in the hearing of good words,
whereby he did often draw other brethren to
devoutness.
But when he had persisted for many years
in conversation of this kind, it came to pass
that the Blessed Francis came to the place
wherein he abode. Who, when he heard
of his conversation from the brethren, said
unto them : " Know ye of a truth that this is
a temptation of the devil, forasmuch as he is
not minded to confess." In the meantime
the Minister General came thither to visit the
Blessed Francis, and did begin to commend
him before the Blessed Francis, and the
Blessed Francis saith unto him : " Believe me,
brother, forasmuch as that brother is led and
deceived of an evil spirit."
Said the Minister General : " Marvellous
seemeth it unto me and as it were incredible,
how this may be in a man that hath so many
signs and works of holiness." And the
Blessed Francis said unto him, " Prove him,
saying unto the brother, c Brother, it is wholly
my will that thou confess twice or at least once
in a week. "
Saint Francis of Assist
But he set his finger on his mouth, shaking
his head, and showing by signs that he would
in no wise do this by reason of his love of
silence. But the minister fearing to scanda
lise him, let him go. And not many days
after, that brother did of his own will with
draw from the Order and return unto the
world wearing the habit of a layman.
But it came to pass one day, when twain of
the companions of the Blessed Francis were
walking by a certain way, they came over
against him where he was walking alone as a
pilgrim exceeding poor. And having com
passion upon him they said : " O unhappy
one, where is thine honest and holy conversa
tion ? For thou wouldst not speak and show
thyself unto the brethren, and now thou goest
roaming up and down the world as a man that
knoweth not God."
But he did begin to speak unto them,
swearing many times " By my faith " like as
do men of this world, and they said unto him:
" Unhappy man, wherefore swearest thou
c By thy faith like unto laymen, seeing that
thou didst keep silence not only from idle
words, but from all ? "
And so they let him go, and a little there
after he died, and greatly did we marvel when
we saw how that was true to the letter which
the Blessed Francis had foretold concerning
185
Saint Francis of Assist
him at the time when that unhappy one was
held by the brethren to be a saint.
GUI. -Of him that did AT the time when
weep before the Blessed nO ne was received
Francis that he might be into the Order with-
received into the Order, Qut the leaye of the
Blessed Francis, a certain son of a nobleman
of Lucca came with many others wishing
to enter the Order, to the Blessed Francis
that was then sick in the palace of the Bishop
of Assisi.
And when all they were presented unto the
Blessed Francis, this one bowed him before
him and began to weep sore, beseeching him
that he might be received. The Blessed
Francis looking straitly upon him, said : " O
wretched and carnal man, wherefore dost thou
lie unto the Holy Ghost and unto me ?
Thou dost weep carnally, not spiritually ! "
And when he had said this, forthwith came
his kinsmen on horses without the palace wish
ing to take and carry him back. But he,
when he heard the clattering of horses did
look forth through a certain window and saw
his kinsmen and did forthwith go down unto
them and as the Blessed Francis had foreseen,
did return into the world with them.
186
Saint Francis of Assisi
CIV. Of a Priest s vine AT the church of
yard that was despoiled of g. Fabian that is
his grapes by occasion o? n jgh Rieti, the
the Blessed Francis. Blessed Francis
made abode with a poor priest by reason of
the infirmity of his eyes. At that time also
was Pope Honorius at that city with all his
court. Whence it came to pass that many
Cardinals and other great clerks visited the
Blessed Francis as it were daily by reason
of the devotion that they had unto him.
Now this church had a little vineyard nigh
the house wherein the Blessed Francis abode,
and in the house was a door whereby well-
nigh all they that visited him did enter into
the vineyard, and the more for that the grapes
were then ripe and the place was right
passing pleasant; so that by this occasion
the vineyard was demolished as it were and
despoiled of the grapes.
Wherefore the priest began to be scandalised
thereat, saying: "Albeit the vineyard be
little, yet did I gather therein enough for my
necessity, and behold, this year have I lost
it!"
Hearing the which, the Blessed Francis
made him be called and said unto him : " Sir,
be not further troubled, forasmuch as we can
not now do other, but trust in the Lord,
seeing that for me His little servant, He is
187
Saint Francis of Assisi
able wholly to restore unto thee thy loss. Tell
me, how many salme of wine hadst thou what
time thou hadst most out of thy vineyard ? "
The priest made answer, "Father, thirteen
salme." Said the Blessed Francis unto him,
" Henceforth be not aggrieved, nor by reason
hereof speak a reproachful word unto any, but
have faith in the Lord and in my words, and
if so be that thou hast less than a score salme,
I will have it made good unto thee." And
thenceforth the priest held his peace and was
quiet, and in the time of vintage by divine
dispensation he had twenty salme of wine out
of that vineyard, and no less. And the priest
marvelled greatly and all they that heard
hereof, saying that had the vineyard been full
of grapes, it was impossible that there should
be twenty salme of wine therein.
But we that were with him do bear witness
that in this as in all else that he spake, his
word was always fulfilled unto the letter.
CV Of the soldiers of WHEN the Blessed
Perugia that did hinder his Francis was preach
ing in the place at
Perugia, and much people was assembled
therein, behold the soldiers of Perugia did
begin to career through the Piazza upon their
horses and did play with their arms and hinder
1*8
Saint Francis of Assisi
his preaching, and albeit some of them that
were present did rebuke them, yet not for this
would they leave of their sport.
Wherefore turning toward them the Blessed
Francis with much fervency of spirit said unto
them : " Hear ye and understand the things
that through me His little servant, the Lord
doth announce unto you, and say not, c We
will hearken not unto him for that he is of
Assisi. " But this he said for that there is an
ancient hatred betwixt them of Perugia and
them of Assisi.
And he saith unto them : " The Lord hath
exalted ye above all your neighbours, and
therefore ought ye the more willingly to
acknowledge your Creator by humbling you
not unto God alone but likewise unto your
neighbours. But your heart is lifted up in
pride, and ye do waste your neighbours and
slay many ; wherefore I say unto you that
save ye be quickly converted unto God and do
make satisfaction of those things wherein ye
have offended, the Lord which leaveth nought
unpunished, to sorer vengeance upon ye and
to your punishment and to your shame shall
make ye rise up one against another, and
in the sedition that shall be raised and in civil
war so great tribulation shall ye suffer as never
could your neighbours wreak upon ye ! "
For on such wise did the Blessed Francis
189
Saint Francis of Assisi
never hold his peace as concerning the ill-
doings of the people when he preached, but
did rebuke all, publicly and manfully. For
the Lord had given unto him such grace that
all they who did see and hear him, of whatso
ever estate or condition they might be, did so
greatly fear and reverence him by reason of
the abundant grace that he had of God, that
howsoever sore they might be rebuked of him,
yet were they always edified by his words and
were either converted unto the Lord or were
inwardly pricked of their conscience.
And it came to pass by divine permission
that after a few days a scandal arose betwixt
the soldiers and the people, such as that
the people did thrust out the soldiers beyond
their city. And the soldiers together with the
Church that did help them did lay waste their
fields and vineyards and trees, and all the hurt
that they could do unto the people they did.
And in like manner, the people did waste
all the goods of the soldiers, and thus were
both people and soldiers punished according to
the word of S. Francis.
CVL How he did fore- A CERTAIN brother,
see the hidden temptation passing spiritual and
of a certain brother. f a m i 1 i a r with the
Blessed Francis, for many days had suffered
190
Saint Francis of Assisi
the most grievous suggestions of the devil, in
such sort as that he was brought as it were
into the very depth of despair. And every
day was he so sore stung thereby that he was
shamed so often to confess the same, and for
this reason did he afflict himself overmuch
by abstinence and vigils and tears and dis
ciplines.
And it came to pass by divine dispensation
that the Blessed Francis did go unto that
place, and on a certain day when that brother
was walking with the Blessed Francis, the
Blessed Francis did perceive by the Holy
Spirit his tribulation and temptation, and
withdrawing him a little from the brother
that did also go with them, he joined himself
unto that sore troubled one, and said unto
him : u My best-beloved brother, I will that
henceforth thou be not bound to confess these
suggestions of the devil, and fear not, for that
no hurt have they done unto thy soul, but by
my leave say thou seven Pater Nosters so often
as thou shalt be in tribulation."
And the brother did rejoice greatly of this
word that he spake, to wit, that he should not
be bound to confess these things, for that
hereby was he most afflicted. Natheless,
however, exceeding greatly was he amazed
seeing that the Blessed Francis had thus per
ceived that which was known only unto those
191
Saint Francis of Assist
priests unto whom he had confessed the
same.
And forthwith was he delivered from that
tribulation in such sort that by the grace of
God and the merits of S. Francis, he did abide
thenceforth in the greatest peace and quiet,
and for that the saint had hoped it would so
be, had he without peril absolved him from
confession.
CVIL Of these things WHEN about the
that he foretold as con- t i me o f his death a
cerning brother Bernard, certajn daint dish
f n tfn7 al t! th T had been made
fulfilled as he said. ^ for ^ he
remembered him of brother Bernard that was
the first brother he had, and saith unto his
companions : " This dish is good for brother
Bernard." And straightway he made him be
called unto him. Who, when he came, sate
upon the bed whereon the saint was lying.
And saith brother Bernard : " Father, I do
beseech thee that thou give me thy bless
ing, and show love for me, seeing that if thou
show fatherly affection toward me, I do believe
that God Himself and all the brethren will
love me the better therefor."
The Blessed Francis could not see him, for
that by the space of many days before he had
192
Saint Francis of Assisi
lost the sight of his eyes, but stretching forth
his right hand, he set it upon the head of
brother Egidio that was third brother, believ
ing that he had set the same upon the head of
brother Bernard that sate next him. And
straightway perceiving the same by the
Holy Spirit he said : " This is not the head
of my brother Bernard."
Then brother Bernard drew him nigher
yet, and the Blessed Francis setting his hand
upon his head gave him his blessing, saying
unto one of his companions : " Write that
which I shall say unto thee. The first brother
that the Lord did give unto me was brother
Bernard, that did first begin and did most
perfectly fulfil the perfection of the Holy
Gospel by giving all his goods unto the poor,
by reason whereof and by reason of many
other prerogatives I am bound to love him
better than any brother in the whole Order.
Whence I will and enjoin so far as I am able,
that whosoever shall be Minister General shall
love and honour him as myself. Let the
ministers, moreover, and all the brethren of
the whole Religion hold him in my stead."
And hereby were brother Bernard and the
other brethren much comforted. For the
blessed Francis, having regard unto the ex
ceeding great perfection of this same brother
Bernard, aid prophesy concerning him in the
193 N
Saint Francis of Assisi
presence of sundry brethren, saying : " I say
unto you that unto brother Bernard have been
given certain of the great and most subtile
devils to exercise him, the which do send upon
him manifold tribulations and temptations.
But the merciful Lord nigh upon his end will
take away from him all tribulation and temp
tation, and will set his spirit and his body in
so passing peace and comfort as that all the
brethren who shall see these things, shall marvel
greatly, and hold it for a great miracle ; and
in this quiet and with the consolation of every
man shall he pass over unto the Lord."
But all these things not without passing
wonderment of all the brethren that did hear
them from the Blessed Francis were thereafter
fulfilled to the letter in brother Bernard him
self. For brother Bernard being sick unto
death was in so great peace and comfort of
spirit that he was fain not to lie down, or if
he lay, he lay as it were sitting, and not the
lightest fume arising to his head did hinder his
meditation on God by sleep or by reason of
any illusion.
And if at any time this did befall him,
straightway he would rise up and smite him
self, saying : " What was it ? Wherefore did
I think thus ? " Nought would he take by
way of medicine, but would say unto him that
offered it : " Hinder me not ! "
194
Saint Francis of Assist
And that he might die even yet more freely
and peacefully he did transfer all care for his
body from himself into the hands of a certain
brother that was a leech, saying : " I am fain
to have no care of eating nor of drinking, but
I commit everything unto thee. If thou
givest it unto me I will take it, if not, I will
not ask for it."
From the time that he began to be sick, he
wished always to have a priest anigh him until
his dying hour, and whensoever aught did
come into his mind that was a burden to his
conscience, he did straightway confess him.
But after his death he did become white
and his flesh soft, and he did seem as though
he smiled. Whence comelier was he dead
than alive, and more delighted were all to look
upon him dead than alive, for that he did seem
verily a saint that smiled.
CVIII.-How, nigh his IN the week that
death, he sent word unto the Blessed Fnmds
S Clara that she should did h
see him, and now it was T j 01 / r
fulfilled after his death, La ?7 Clara > the first
sapling of the poor
Sisters of S. Damian of Assisi, the chiefest
rival of the Blessed Francis in the observance
Of Gospel perfection, fearing lest she should
die before him, for that at that time both lay
95
Saint Francis of Assisi
grievously sick, wept most bitterly and would
not be comforted, for that she thought she
should not see before her departure her one
father after God, the Blessed Francis, her
comforter and master and her first founder in
the grace of God.
And therefore did she signify this unto the
Blessed Francis by a certain brother, which
when the holy man did hear, forasmuch as
he did love her above all other with fatherly
affection, he was moved with pity toward
her. But considering that the thing she
would, to wit, to see him, could not be
brought about, for her consolation and that of
all the sisterhood he did write unto her his
blessing in a letter, and did absolve her of all
defect in case she had done aught against his
admonition and against the commandments
and counsels of the Son of God. And so that
she should lay aside all sadness and grief, he
said unto the brother whom he had sent :
"Go and tell sister Clara to lay aside all
sorrow and sadness for that she cannot see me
just now, forasmuch as in truth let her know
before her departure both she herself and my
sisters shall see me and shall be greatly com
forted as concerning me."
But it came to pass when a little afterward
the Blessed Francis had passed away in the
night, that on the morrow the whole people
196
Saint Francis of Assisi
and clergy of Assisi came and took away his
holy body from the place where he had passed
away with hymns and lauds, each one bearing
aloft branches of trees, and thus did they carry
the same by the will of the Lord to S. Damian s,
so that the word might be fulfilled which the
Lord had spoken by the Blessed Francis for
the comfort of His daughters and His hand
maidens.
^ And removing the iron lattice whereby the
sisters were wont to communicate and to hear
the word of God, the brethren took th? holy
body from the bier and held it between their
arms for a long space at the opening until that
the Lady Clara and her sisters had been com
forted by the sight thereof albeit they were over
come and full of sorrow and many tears seeing
themselves made orphans of the consolations
and admonitions of so dear a father.
CIX,-How he did fore- ONE day when he
tell that his body would was j j sick
death the Bish P s house
at Assisi, a certain
spiritual brother said unto him by way of a
jape half laughingly : " For how much wouldst
thou sell all thy sack-cloths unto the Lord ?
Many baldachins and cloths of silk shall here
after be set upon this little body of thine ! "
197
Saint Francis of Assisi
for at that time he had his cassock covered
with sack-cloth and even his coverlid was also
of sack-cloth.
And the Blessed Francis made answer, or
rather, not he but the Holy Spirit by him, and
with much fervour and gladness of spirit said :
" Thou speakest sooth, seeing that so will it
be for the praise of my God and by His
grace ! "
THE ELEVENTH PART, OF THE
DIVINE PROVIDENCE IN OUT
WARD THINGS RELATING UNTO
HIM,
CX. And first, how the WHILST the Blessed
Lord did provide for the Francis was at the
brethren sitting at a sorry hermitage of Fonte
table with a leech. p a lumbo near Rieti,
the eye-leech one day did visit him for the
infirmity of his eyes. And when he had
stayed there some space and would now be
gone, the Blessed Francis said unto one of his
companions : " Go and give the leech to eat
of the best." His companion made answer
unto him : " Father, we be shamed to say
that we be so poor just now that we are
198
Saint Francis of Assist
ashamed to invite him to eat." The Blessed
Francis thereupon said unto his companions :
" O ye of little faith, let me not have to speak
twice unto you ! " And the leech saith unto
the Blessed Francis : " Brother, for that the
brethren be poor, the more willing am I to
eat with them." For that leech was exceed
ing rich, and albeit the Blessed Francis and
the companions had oftentimes invited him,
yet never would he eat with them.
The brethren therefore went and made
ready the table, and with shame did set
thereon a little bread and wine and a little
dish of herbs that they had made ready for
themselves. And whilst they were sitting at
this sorry table, so soon as they had begun to
eat, behold, there was a knocking at the door
of the place, and when one of the brethren
went and opened the door, behold, there stood
a woman carrying a great vessel full of fair
bread and fishes and pasties of crevisses, and
honey and grapes that had been sent to
the Blessed Francis by the Lady of a castle
some seven miles away from the place.
When they saw this, the brethren and the
leech did mightily marvel and rejoice, having
regard unto the holiness of S. Francis and
ascribing it all to his merits. And saith the
leech unto the brethren : " Neither you nor I
do meetly acknowledge this man s holiness ! "
199
Saint Francis of Assisi
CXI. Of the fish that he ANOTHER time,
did fancy in his sickness. when he was griev
ous sick in the Bishop s palace of Assisi, the
brethren did beseech him that he would eat
somewhat. Who made answer : " No will
have I to eat, but and if I could have a bit of
chub, haply I could eat a little." And just as he
spake, behold, a certain man came carrying a
tray whereon were three large chub fairly
garnished with roundels of crevisses, whereof
the holy father did gladly eat.
And this did brother Gerard that was
minister at Rieti send him. And the brethren,
marvelling on the divine Providence, gave
praises unto the Lord that had made provision
for His servant in these meats that it was im
possible could be had at Assisi at that time, for
that it was winter.
CXIL Of the meats and WHILST that he was
cloth that he did fancy j n t h e p l ace of
about the time of his S> M of the
Angels, sick of the
ailment whereof he died, he one day called his
companions saying : " Ye know how that the
Lady Jacqueline of Settesoli was and is exceed
ing faithful and devoted unto me and unto our
Religion, and I do therefore believe that she
would hold it as a great grace and consolation
200
Saint Francis of Assist
were we to notify her of mine estate, and
specially send her word that she send me some
religious cloth that is like unto ashes in
colour, and with the cloth let her send also of
the marchpane that many a time she hath
made for me in the city." That confection
the Romans do call mostacciuolo^ and is made
of almonds and sugar and other things.
For that lady was right spiritual, but a
widow of the best and richest in all Rome,
that by the merits and preaching of the
Blessed Francis did obtain such grace of the
Lord as that evermore was she so full of tears
and devotion for the love and sweetness of
Christ that she did seem as it were a second
Magdalene.
They therefore wrote the letter as the holy
man had said, and a certain brother did go
seek another brother to carry the letter to the
foresaid Lady, and straightway there was a
knocking at the door. And when one of the
brethren had opened the door, behold, there
was the Lady Jacqueline that had come in
great haste to visit the Blessed Francis.
Whom when one of the brethren did recog
nise, he went in haste unto the Blessed Francis,
and with much gladness did announce unto
him how the Lady Jacqueline had come from
Rome with her son and many others to visit
him. And saith he : " What shall we do,
201
Saint Francis of Assisi
father ? Shall we let her enter and come
unto thee ? "
But this he said for that by the will of
S. Francis it was ordained that at that place,
by reason of the great seemliness and devotion
thereof, no woman was allowed to enter the
cloister. And the Blessed Francis said : " This
regulation is not to be observed in respect of
that Lady, whom so great faith and devotion
hath brought hither from parts so far away."
The Lady therefore did come in unto the
Blessed Francis shedding many tears in his
presence. And, a right marvellous thing, she
did bring with her the shroud-cloth, to wit,
the cloth of ashen-grey colour for his habit,
and all the things that were contained in the
letter had she brought with her as though she
had received the letter.
And saith the Lady to the brethren : " My
brothers, it was said unto me in spirit whilst
that I was praying : c Go and visit thy father
the Blessed Francis, and haste thee and tarrv
not, for and thou tarriest long thou wilt not
find him alive : and carry unto him such a
cloth for his habit, and such other things and
confections, and likewise take with thee a
great quantity of wax for lights, and of incense
also." For all these things save the incense
were contained in the letter that should have
been sent.
202
Saint Francis of Assist
And thus it came to pass that He which
did inspire the Kings that they should go
with their gifts to honour His Son on the day
of His Nativity, did also inspire this noble and
holy Lady that she should go with her gifts to
honour His best-beloved servant in the days of
his death, yea, rather, of his true nativity.
That Lady, therefore, had made ready the
marchpane whereof the holy father did desire
to eat, but very little did he eat thereof, foras
much as he was fast failing and did draw nigh
unto death. Howbeit he had many candles
made that after his death should burn before
his most holy body, and of the cloth did the
brethren make for him the habit wherewith he
was buried. Moreover he bade the brethren
sew a sack-cloth thereupon in token and
in ensample of humility and of our Lady
Poverty, and in that week wherein the Lady
Jacqueline did come, did our most holy father
pass away unto the Lord.
203
Saint Francis of Assist
THE TWELFTH PART, OF HIS
LOVE TOWARD CREATURES AND
OF CREATURES TOWARD HIM,
CXIII And first, of the WHOLLY wrapped
love that he had specially up j n t h e \ Qve of
toward the birds that are God the Blessed
called crested larks, for T? j-j r i
that in them was the Jnmcis did perfectly
similitude of a good Discern the goodness
Religious. * (jr d not Onl 7 m
his own soul now
adorned with every perfection of godliness,
but also in every creature whatsoever, by
reason whereof he was affected with a singular
and overflowing love toward the creatures,
more especially those wherein seemed him to
be a figure of aught that is of God or aught
pertaining unto Religion. Whence above all
other birds did he love the crested lark, the
little bird that in the vulgar tongue is called
lodola capellata^ and he would say of her :
" Sister lark hath a hood like the Religious,
and an humble bird is she for she gladly goeth
by the way to find her a few grains of corn
and so she findeth them even among the
dung, she taketh them therefrom and eateth
them. When she soareth she doth praise God
right sweetly, even as the good Religious that
204
Saint Francis of Assisi
doth look down on earthly things, whose con
versation is evermore in Heaven, and whose
intent is always toward the praise of God.
Her garments, to wit, her feathers, are like
unto the earth and she giveth ensample unto
the Religious that they wear not delicate and
gaudy garments but such as be vile in price
and colour even as the earth is viler than the
other elements."
And for that he did perceive these simili
tudes in them, he did most gladly look upon
them. Therefore it pleased the Lord that
these most holy birdies should show some
token of the love they bare unto him in the
hour of his death. For on the Saturday even
ing after vespers, before the night wherein he
passed away unto the Lord, a great multitude
of birds of this kind that are called larks came
above the roof of the house wherein he lay,
and flying a little way off did make a wheel
after the manner of a circle round the roof,
and by their sweet singing did seem to be
praising the Lord along with him.
105
Saint Francis of Assisi
CXIV. That he would WE that were with
fain have persuaded the t h e Blessed Francis
Emperorto make a special and haye wHtten
law that in the Nativity <i . u , ,
of our Lord men should theSC thln S S d r bear
make good provision for witness that often-
the birds, for the ox and tlmes have we heard
the ass and for the poor. him saying : " And
I ever have speech
with the Emperor, I will entreat him and
persuade him and tell him that for the love of
God and of me he ought to make a special
law that none snare nor kill our Sisters the
larks nor do any evil unto them. In like
manner, that all the Mayors of the cities and
the Lords of the castles and towns be bound
every year on the day of the Nativity of our
Lord, to compel their men to throw wheat
and other grain along the roads beyond the
cities and walled towns, so as that our Sisters
the larks may have whereof to eat, and other
birds also on a day of so passing solemnity,
and that for reverence of the Son of God
whom on such a night the most Blessed
Virgin Mary did lay down in the stall betwixt
the ox and the ass, whosoever hath an ox and
an ass be bound on that night to provide them
provender the best that may be, and in like
manner also that on such a day all poor folk
should be given their fill of good victual by
the rich."
206
Saint Francis of Assisi
For the Blessed Francis had a greater
reverence for Christmas than for other fes
tivals of our Lord, saying : " After that the
Lord was born for us, it did become a matter
of necessity that we should be saved." Where
fore he would that every Christian on that
day should exult in the Lord, and that for the
love of Him which did give Himself unto us,
all ought not only to make abundant largesse
unto the poor, but likewise also unto the
beasts and birds.
CXV. Of the love and WHEN he had come
obedience of the fire unto to t h e hermitage of
him what time he made Fonte Pa l umbo
him be burnt by cautery. nfgh Ried for ^
cure of the infirmity of his eyes, whereunto
he was compelled on his obedience by the
Lord Bishop of Ostia and by brother Elias the
Minister General, one day the leech came unto
him.
Who, after examining his infirmity, said
unto the Blessed Francis that he wished to
make a cautery over the cheek as far as the
eyebrow of the eye that was worse than the
other. But the Blessed Francis would not
that he should begin the operation save
brother Elias were there, for that he had said
he would fain be present when the leech
207
Saint Francis of Assist
should begin that operation, for ^he Blessed
Francis was afeard, and right grievous was it
unto him that he should have so great
solicitude about himself ; wherefore he would
that the Minister General should be the one
to have everything done as concerning him.
When, therefore, he had waited for him,
and he came not by reason of the many hin
drances that he had, the Blessed Francis gave
the leech leave to do as he would. And when
the iron was set in the fire for making of the
cautery, the Blessed Francis being fain to
comfort his spirit lest he should be overmuch
afeard, spake thus unto the fire : " Fire, my
brother, noble and useful amongst other
creatures, be thou gracious unto me in this
hour, seeing that of old have I loved thee and
yet will love thee for the love of Him that did
create thee. Earnestly, moreover, do I pray
the Creator that did create both thee and me,
that He will so temper thine heat as that I
may be able to abide it." And when he had
ended his prayer he did sign the fire with the
sign of the Cross.
But we that were with him at that time
did all flee away for pity and compassion
toward him, and only the leech did remain
with him. But when the cautery was made
we returned unto him, who said : "O feeble-
hearted and of little faith, wherefore did ye
208
Saint Francis of Assist
flee ? In truth I say unto you that I felt
neither pain nor any heat of the fire. Yea,
and it be not now well seared, let him again
sear it better ! "
And thereat did the leech marvel greatly ;
saying : " My brethren, I tell you that I
should fear, not only for him that is so feeble
and ailing, but for any man, even were he the
strongest, lest he should not be able to endure
so great a cautery ; yet truly did this man never
flinch nor show any the least sign of pain."
For it was necessary that all the veins from
the ear as far as the eyebrow should be cut,
yet, nevertheless was he thereby nothing
benefited. In like manner did another leech
pierce both his ears with a hot iron, yet naught
did he profit thereby.
Nor is it a marvel that the fire and other
creatures were at times obedient unto him
and did reverence him, for, as we that were
with him have full ofttimes seen, he had so
great affection toward them and did so greatly
delight in them, and his spirit was moved with
so great pity and compassion for them, that he
would not see them treated unfairly, and he
would so talk with them with gladness both
inward and outward, as if they had reason,
whence by occasion thereof was he oftentimes
rapt up to God.
209
Saint Francis of Assisi
CXVL That he would AMONG all the in-
not quench nor allow to f er ior and insensible
be quenched the fire that creatureSi he had a
did burn his hosen. spedal affection to _
ward fire, by reason of the beauty and useful
ness thereof ; wherefore he would never hinder
it in doing the office thereof. For once on a
time, when he was sitting nigh the fire, with
out his knowledge the fire did catch upon his
linen cloths or hosen nigh the knee, and when
he felt the heat thereof, he would not put it
out. But his companion that did see his hosen
afire ran unto him intending to quench the
fire, but he forbade him, saying : " Nay,
dearest brother, harm not the fire ! And
thus would he not by no means that he should
quench it.
Howbeit, he went hastily to the brother
that was his warden and fetched him to the
Blessed Francis and he did forthwith against
the will of the Blessed Francis put out the
fire. Whence, however urgent were the
necessity, he would never put out a fire nor
a lamp nor a candle, with so great pity was
he moved toward them.
Moreover he would not that a brother
should fling away a fire nor move a smoking
log from place to place as is wont, but should
simply set the same on the ground out of
reverence to Him whose creature it is.
210
Saint Francis of Assisi
CXVIL How he would WHILST that he
never wear a pelt for that was keeping Lent at
he had not allowed it to Monte Alverna,one
day his companion,
at the hour of eating together, did make ready
a fire in the cell wherein he ate, and when he
had kindled the fire went for the Holy Francis
unto another cell wherein he was praying,
carrying with him the Missal, so as that he
might read to him the Gospel for the day, for
he would always hear the Gospel that was
read in the Missal for the day or ever he would
eat when he could not hear Mass.
And when he came to the cell wherein the
fire had been kindled to eat, behold, the flame
of the fire had already climbed up unto the roof
of the cell and was burning it ; whereupon
the companion began to put out the fire the
best he might, but he could not do so single-
handed. Howbeit the Blessed Francis would
not help him, but took a certain pelt that he
did wear over him of a night and went there
with into the wood.
Howbeit the brethren of the place that
dwelt at a distance from the cell, so soon
as they perceived that the cell was being burnt,
came straightway and did quench the fire.
The Blessed Francis did afterward return to
eat, and when he had eaten, he said unto his
companion : " Never more will I have that
211
Saint Francis of Assist
pelt upon me, forasmuch as by reason of my
covetousness I would not that brother fire
should eat it."
CXVIII. Ol the special NEXT to fire, he
love that he had toward did specially love
water and stones and wood wa ter, wherein is
and flowers. figured holy peni
tence and tribulation whereby the uncleannesses
of the soul are washed away, and also the first
ablution of the> soul that doth take place in
the water of baptism. Whence whensoever
he did wash his hands he would make choice
of such a place as that the water which fell
should not be trodden by his feet. Moreover
when he did walk over stones, he would walk
with great trembling and reverence for the
love of him that is called " the Rock," whence,
whensover he did repeat that word of the
psalm : " Thou didst exalt me upon a rock,"
he would say out of his great reverence and
devotion : " Under the foot of the rock hast
Thou exalted me."
The brother moreover, that did cut and
make ready the wood for the fire, he bade
that he should never cut up the whole of
a tree, but should cut it in such sort as that of
such a tree some part should remain whole for
212
Saint Francis of Assisi
the love of Him that did work out our salva
tion on the wood of the Cross.
In like manner also he told the brother that
did the garden not to dig the whole of the
ground for eatable herbs only, but to leave
some part of the ground for growing green
herbs that in their due times produce the
Brothers flowers for the love of Him that
is called " the flower of the field " and " the
lily of the valley."
Yea, he said that brother gardener ought
always to make a fair little garden in some
part of the garden land, setting and planting
therein of all sweet-smelling herbs and of all
herbs that do bring forth fair flowers so as
that in their time they might invite them that
did look upon the herbs and flowers to praise
the Lord. For every creature doth cry out
saying : " God hath made me on account of
thee, O man ! "
Whence we that were with him saw that he
did so greatly rejoice both inwardly and out
wardly as it were in all things created, that in
touching them or looking thereon his spirit
did seem to be not upon earth but in Heaven.
And by reason of the many consolations that
he had and had aforetime had in the creatures,
a little before his departure he did compose
certain Praises of the Lord as concerning His
213
Saint Francis of Assisi
creatures, to encourage the hearts of those that
should hear them to the praise of God, and that
the Lord might be praised of men in His
creatures.
CXI X. How he com- ABOVE all creatures
mended the sun and the lacking reason, he
fire above other creatures. did j ove the sun an d
fire with most affection, for he would say :
" In the morning when the sun ariseth, every
man ought to praise God that did create him
for our use, for that by him are our eyes
enlightened by day ; but in the even when the
night cometh, every man ought to praise Him
for brother fire, for that by him are our eyes
enlightened by night, for we be as it were all
blind and the Lord by these two brethren doth
enlumine our eyes ; and therefore specially for
these and the other creatures whereof we do
daily make use, ought we to praise the
Creator." The which himself did always
unto his dying day.
Yea, when he was grieved of a sore infirmity
he did begin to sing the Laudes Domini that
he had made as concerning the creatures, and
afterward did make his companions sing, so as
that in meditating on the praise of God, he
might forget his pains and the bitterness of his
infirmities.
214
Saint Francis of Assisi
And for that he did deem and say that the
sun is fairer than other creatures and a nigher
similitude of our Lord, and that the Lord
Himself is called in Scripture the "Sun of
justice," when he would give a title to the
Lauds that he made of the creatures of the
Lord, to wit, what time the Lord did certify
him of His Kingdom, he did therefore call
them "The Song of Brother Sun."
CXX. These be the Most high, almighty
Lauds of the Creatures and most gracious Lord,
that he made what time Thine be the praises
the Lord did certify him of a nd the glory an<l the
His Kingdom. honour and every bless
ing, for unto Thee alone, O most highest, do they
belong, and no man is worthy to make mention of Thy
Name.
Praised be Thou, O Lord, of all Thy creatures
and above all of Brother Sun, my lord, that doth
illumine us with the dawning of the day.
For fair is he and bright, and the brightness of his
glory doth signify Thee, O Thou most highest.
Praised be Thou, O my Lord, of Sister Moon and
the stars that Thou hast shapen in the heavens, bright
and precious and comely.
Praised be Thou, O my Lord, of Brother Wind
and the air, and of the clouds and the clear, and of
all the times of the sky whereby Thou dost make pro
vision for Thy creatures.
215
Saint Francis of Assisi
Praised be Thou, O my Lord, of Sister Water,
for manifold is her use, and humble is she and pre
cious and chaste.
Praised be Thou, O my Lord, of Brother Fire, by
whom Thou dost lighten our darkness, and comely is
he and joyful and masterful and strong.
Praised be Thou, O my Lord, of Sister Earth our
mother that doth cherish us and hath us in keeping,
and doth bring forth fruit in abundance and flowers of
many colours and the grass.
Praised be Thou, O my Lord, of them that do
show forgiveness unto others for love of Thee, and do
endure sickness and tribulation. Tea, blessed be they
that do endure in peace, for of Thee, O Thou most
highest, shall they be crowned.
Praised be Thou, O my Lord, of Sister Death,
the death of the body from whom no man living may
escape, but woe unto them that shall die in deadly sin,
and blessed be they that shall walk according unto
Thy most holy will, for unto them shall the second
death do no hurt.
Praise ye and bless my Lord and give thanks unto
Him and serve Him in all humbleness.
216
Saint Francis of Assisi
THE THIRTEENTH PART, OF HIS
DEATH, AND THE JOY THAT HE
SHOWED WHEN HE KNEW FOR
CERTAIN THAT HE WAS NIGH
UNTO DEATH,
CXXI. And first, how he WHILST he was
made answer to brother lying sick in the
Elias that did rebuke him pa i ace o f the bishop-
for showing so much toy.
the hand of the Lord did seem made heavier
than of wont upon him, the people of Assisi,
fearing in case he should die in the night, lest
the brethren should take away his most holy
body and carry it away unto another city,
made ordinance that every night diligent
watch should be kept by their men in the
circuit without the palace-wall.
But the most holy father, that he might
comfort his spirit lest he should at any time
swoon by reason of the violence of the pain
wherewith he was continually afflicted, did
oftentimes in the day make the Laudes Domini
be chanted throughout by his companions.
The same also did he by night for the edifica
tion and comfort of the lay-folk that were
keeping watch without the palace on his
account.
217
Saint Francis of Assist
But brother Elias perceiving that the
Blessed Francis in his sore sickness did thus
comfort him and rejoice in the Lord, said unto
him : " Dearest father, of all the cheerfulness
thou dost manifest in this sickness on behalf
of thyself and thy companions have I great
comfort and edification, but albeit that the
men of this city do reverence thee as a holy
man, natheless, for that they do firmly believe
thee to be full nigh unto thy death by reason
of this thine incurable malady, when they
hear Lauds of this kind chanted by day and
night, they may haply say among themselves :
c How cometh this man to manifest such
cheerfulness when he is nigh his death ? He
ought rather to be thinking about his death.* "
The Blessed Francis said unto him : " Re-
memberest thou, when thou didst see the
vision at Foligno, how thou didst say unto
me that a certain man had told thee that I
should not live but two years longer ? Before
that vision, thou sawest how by the grace of
God that doth suggest every good thing unto
the heart and doth set the same in the mouth
of His faithful, I did oftentimes by day and
night bethink me of mine end. But from the
hour that thou didst see the vision, even yet
more anxious was I to bethink me daily of
my dying day." And straightway with great
fervency of spirit saith he : " Give me leave,
218
Saint Francis of Assisi
brother, to rejoice in the Lord and in His
praises and in mine own infirmities, seeing
that by the grace of the Holy Ghost, I am so
joined and made one with my Lord, that by
His mercy, well may I be glad in Him, Most
Highest."
CXXIL- How he did in* IN those days, in
duce the leech to tell him the same palace, did
how long he should live, a certain leech of
Arezzo visit him, by name John Good, that
was exceeding familiar with the Blessed
Francis ; and the Blessed Francis did question
him saying : " How seemeth thee, goodman
leech, of this mine infirmity of hydropsy ? "
For he would not call him by his right name
for that he would not name the name of any
that was called " good," out of reverence to
the Lord which said : " None is good save
God only." In like manner he would not
call any " father " nor " master," nor so write
in his letters, out of reverence to the Lord
which said : " And call no man father upon
earth, nor be ye called masters."
And the leech saith unto him : " Brother,
by the grace of God it shall be well with
thee." Again the Blessed Francis said unto
him : " Tell me the truth. How seemeth it
unto thee ? Fear not to tell me, seeing that
ZIQ
Saint Francis of Assisi
by the grace of God no craven am I that I
should fear death, for by the grace of the
Ploly Ghost that worketh with me, I am so
made one with my Lord that to live or die
am I equally content."
The leech therefore said unto him : " Mani
festly, father, by all rules of our leech-craft
thine infirmity is incurable, and I do believe
that either at the end of September or on the
fourth of the Nones of October thou wilt
die. Then the Blessed Francis lying back in
his bed with great devoutness and reverence
spread out his hands toward the Lord, and
with much cheerfulness of mind and body
said : " Welcome, my Sister Death ! "
CXXIIL How, when he AFTER these things,
did hear that he should die a certain brother said
so soon, he did forthwith unto him . Father
make be chanted the Lauds thy life and conyer .
that he had made. sation was and is a
light and a mirror not only unto thy brethren
but unto the whole Church, and that same
thing shall thy death be ; and albeit unto thy
brethren and unto many others, thy death
shall be a matter of sadness and sorrow, yet
shall comfort be thine and a joy that is in
finite, for thou shalt pass away from sore
travail unto exceeding rest, away from these
220
Saint Francis of Assist
many pains and temptations unto everlasting
peace, away from this temporal poverty that
thou hast loved and perfectly hast observed
unto the true riches without end, away from
this temporal death unto the life that faileth
not, wherein face to face shalt thou behold thy
Lord God whom in this world thou hast loved
with so great fervency of love and desire ! "
And when he had spoken thus, he said unto
him plainly : " Father, know this of a truth,
that save the Lord should send thee healing
from heaven, thine infirmity is past all healing
and thou hast but a brief space to live, even as
the leeches have said but just now. But this
have I said unto thee for the comforting of
thy spirit that thou mayst ever both inwardly
and outwardly rejoice in the Lord, so as that
thy brethren and other that come to see thee,
may find thee ever rejoicing in the Lord, and
that unto them that shall see it and unto other
that shall hear thereof after thy death, thy
death may be a memorial for ever like as hath
been and ever shall be thy life and conversa
tion."
Then the Blessed Francis, albeit that he
were weighed down by his infirmities beyond
his wont, yet did seem nevertheless to put on
new gladness of mind, hearing that Sister
Death was so close at hand, and with great
fervency of spirit gave praise unto the Lord*
221
Saint Francis of Assisi
and said unto the brother : " Forasmuch as
that and it please the Lord I am so soon to
die, call brother Angelo and brother Leo
unto me that they may sing to me of Sister
Death."
When those two brethren had come into
his presence, full of grief and sadness with
many tears they chanted the " Song of Brother
Sun and of the other creatures of the Lord "
that the holy man had made. And at that
time before the last verse of the canticle he
added certain verses as concerning Sister
Death, saying :
Praised be Thou, O my Lord of Sifter Death the
death of the body, from whom no man living may
escape, but woe unto them that shall die in deadly sin,
and blessed be they that shall walk according to Thy
most holy will, for unto them shall the second death
do no hurt!
CXXrW- How he gave THE most holy
his blessing to the city o father being now
Assisi when he was carried certified as well by
unto S. Mary s that he tne Holy Spirit as
might die there. by the op i n i on o f
the leeches that he was nigh unto death,
whilst that he was still in the said palace, and
did feel that he was evermore waxing worse
and that his bodily strength was failing, did
222
Saint Francis of Assisi
make him be borne in his bed to S. Mary of
the Little Portion, that he might end the life
of the body there where he had first begun to
experience the light and life of the soul.
But when they that did carry him had come
as far as the Hospital that is in the road half
way betwixt Assisi and S. Mary s he bade the
bearers that they should set the bed on the
ground, and for that by reason of the long and
passing sore infirmity of his eyes, he could as
it were no longer see aught, he made the bed be
turned round so as that they might set his face
toward the city of Assisi.
And lifting him up a little in the bed, he
gave his blessing unto the said city, saying :
" Lord, whereas this city of old was, as I
believe, the place and habitation of wicked
men, so now do I see that by reason of Thine
abundant mercy in Thine own good time Thou
hast shown forth the multitude of Thy mercies
therein above all other cities, and by reason
of the goodness thereof alone hast chosen her
unto Thyself to be the place and habitation of
them that in truth should acknowledge Thee
and give glory to Thy holy Name, and make
manifest unto all Christian people the sweet
smell of good report, holy life and Gospel
perfection. Wherefore I beseech Thee, O
Lord Jesus Christ, father of mercies, that
Thou remember not our ingratitude, but ever
223
Saint Francis of Assisi
bear in mind the abundant pity that Thou
hast shown forth in her, that she may be for
ever the place and habitation of them that do
truly acknowledge Thee and glorify Thy
blessed and most glorious Name from ever
lasting unto everlasting. Amen ! "
And when he had spoken these words he
was carried unto S. Mary s, wherein in the
forty-first year of his age and after he had
fulfilled twenty years of perfect repentance, in
the year of Our Lord 1227, on the fourth of
the Nones of October, he passed away unto the
Lord Jesus Christ whom with all his heart
and with all his soul and with all his strength
he loved with the most ardent desire and with
the fullest affection, following Him most per
fectly, running after Him most swiftly, and in
the end most gloriously overtaking Him that
with the Father and the Holy Ghost ever
liveth and reigneth from everlasting unto
everlasting Amen.
Here endeth the Mirror of Perfection of a
brother Minor ; to wit, of the Blessed Francis,
wherein we may most sufficiently behold as in
a glass the perfection of his calling and pro
fession.
All praise, all glory be unto God the
Father and unto the Son and unto the Holy
Ghost. Honour and thanksgiving unto the
224
Saint Francis of Assist
most Blessed Virgin Mary and unto Her holy
martyr Kunera ; magnificence and exaltation
unto Her most Blessed servant Francis.
Amen.
Done in the most holy place of S. Mary of tht
Little Portion, and completed this fifth oj
the Ides of May in the year of Our Lord
1228.
25
INDEX
ABSTINENCE, Francis s teaching as to, 4850
Alms, Francis s teaching as to, 30-35, 37; holiness of the
bread of, 42
Alverna, Mount, 176, 21 1
Angelo Tancredi, brother, 1155 his courtesy, 1525 Francis,
dying, bids him sing to him, 222
Arezzo, the leech of, 219
Assisi, house for the brethren built by folk of, 13 ; soldiers of,
go to fetch Francis, 37 ; the bishop of, has no church for
Francis, 85 j Francis is haled through the streets of, 102;
dissension between Bishop and High Bailiff of, l8oj feud
between Perugia and, 189 ; the people of, bear away the
body of Francis, 197 ; Francis sick to death at, 217 j
Francis blesses the city of, 223
BAGNARA, Francis ailing at, 37
Benedict, Abbot of S., gives a church to Francis, 85
Bernard, brother, his faith, 152 ; is blessed bv Franci?, 193 j
his sickness, 194 ; and death, 195
Body, Francis s teaching as to the needs of the, 171
Bologna, house of the brethren at, 1 3
Bonaventura, Doctor, 18
Bonyzo, brother, of Bologna, I
Borgo San Sepolcro, robbers come to the brethren of, nz
Bovara, Francis goes to the deserted church at, 98
Bread broken and given by Francis, 159
Brother Minor, Francis s picture of a, 152
Brothers Minor, 20; their title revealed to Francis, 45 $ their
salutation, 46
Brother Sun, the Song of, 181, xi <;
226
Index
CANUTES, Francis has them made ready for his dying, 203
Cautery, Francis submits to, 207
Celano, a poor woman of, 52
Chastity, Francis s teaching as to, 154
Cheerfulness, Francis s love of, 167-171
Christ complains to Leo, 81 5 comforts Francis, 144
Christmas, Francis s reverence for, 207
Clara, desires to see Francis, 195 ; and beholds his dead body,
197
Clara, Francis admonishes the Sisters of S., 161
Cortona, cell of, 53
DAMIAN, S., of Assisi, the poor sisters of, 195 5 the body of
Francis is borne to the house of, 197
Death, sister, Francis s welcome to, 220
Devil, the, his presence in a pillow, 173 ; tempts Francis by
means of mice, 176 j a brother tempted by, 190
Devils, Francis puts them to flight, 98 ; he is beaten of, 114 j
they are the Lord s sergeants, 116, 120-126
Dominic, S., 68 j girds on the cord of Francis, 70
EGIDIUS, brother, joins the Religion, 61 j his gift of contem
plation, 153
Eleutherius, hermitage of S., 28
Elias, brother, vicar of Francis, 2 ; makes a house at Assisi for
the brethren, 155 is rebuked by Francis, 1 6 ; Francis
asks his presence, 207 j he rebukes Francis, 218
Eye-leech, the, visits Francis, 198 ; and eats with the brothers
199 j he treats Francis s eye infirmity by cautery, 207
FABIAN, S., the poor priest of the church of, 187
Fire, Francis s appeal to, 208 j and love of, 209
Flesh-meats, Francis obtains for the sick, 67 j Francis performs
penance for having eaten, 102
Foligno, brother Elias at, 218
Fonte Palumbo, Francis at the hermitage of, 118, 198, 207
Francis of Assisi, his rules, I j his decision as to the possession
of books, 3, 6-8, 12 ; on the rule of poverty, 6-12, 19,
&c. ; he would fain destroy the house at Assisi, 14 ; a
cell is built for him, 16 j he renounces the cell, 17 ; visits
Siena, 18 j on the name of brothers Minor, 20 ; on deli-
227
Index
cate clothing, 27 j he asks alms, 30 j his teaching re
garding alms, 31-35, 37-44 } is ill at Bagnara, 375 he
eats with a famishing brother, 47 j his condescension to
a sick brother, 50 ; his gifts to the poor, 52-60, 105, &c. ;
he turns aside the wrath of an injured man, 54 j his in
firmities, 59 ; he rebukes one who misdeemed of a poor
man, 60 j makes a New Testament be given to a poor
woman, 64 ; he resigns the office of superior, 65, 125 j
renounces honours for the brethren, 69 j preaches at
Rieti, 72 ; accepts a companion as warden, 74 ; his
teaching of perfect obedience, 76 j the church of S. Mary
of the Little Portion given to him, 85 ; he sends yearly a
quit-rent for the church, 87 j cleanses the churches of
Assisi, 91 ; is helped by a countryman, 92 j and accepts
him as his companion, 95 ; reproves brother James, 96 ;
and repents of the reproof, 97, 98 ; is tempted by devils,
98 ; performs penance at Assisi, 102 j is minded to preach
in distant lands, 107 5 his care for the Lord s Body, 109;
is forbidden to go to France, no j teaches the brethren
how to deal with robbers, 1125 visits Cardinal Leo, 114}
is heaten by devils, 116 ; returns to Fonte Palumbo, 118 j
desires godliness lather than knowledge fof the brethren,
121-128 ; his knights of the Table Round, 129 ; his
zeal for the Rule, 135 ; commends the Religion of the
brothers Minor to the Roman Church, 137 ; obtains from
God favours for the Religion, 138 ; describes such a man
as should succeed him, 139 ; and what men the com
panions should be, 142 ; the Lord comforts him in his
grief, 144, 145 j his zeal for the place of S. Mary of the
Little Portion, 147, &c. ; he says and teaches the Laudes
Domino, 149 ; his zeal for the perfection of the brethren,
152 ; his teaching as to chastity, 154 ; his exceeding in
firmity, 155-161 ; his three words to the brethren, 157 ;
gives bread to the brethren, 159 ; his compassion for the
sufferings of Chr jt, 163-1655 he rebukes a sorrowful
companion, 169 ; is tempted of the devil, 173 j his re
lease from temptation, 175 j receives the stigmata on
Mount Alverna, 176 : his songs of praise, 178 5 makes
peace between the Bishop and the High Bailiff of Assisi,
1 80 ; is aware of false brethren, 183 ; stays with a poor
priest at Rieti, 187 j his preaching hindered at Perugia,
228
Index
1 88 ; he deals gently with a tempted brother, 191 ; he
blesses brother Bernard, 193 5 he writes to sister Clara,
196 j his death, 196, 203, 2245 he foretells the honour
ing of his body, 197 j makes welcome the eye-leech, 198 j
is visited by the Lady Jaqueline, 201 ; his love of all
creatures, 204 ; how he would have the Nativity ob
served, 206, 207 ; the eye-leech visits him, 207 j his love
of fire, 209-212 j his love of water and wood, 212 ; his
song of Brother Sun, 215 j his sickness at Assisi, 2175
he asks the leech of his condition, 219 ; he blesses the
city of Assisi, 223 j he dies at S. Mary s, 224
French songs made by Francis, 165
GARDEN, some of it to be set apart for flowers, 213
Garments, teaching of Francis regarding, 28
Greccio, the hermitage at, 173
Gregory IX., Pope, 36
HONORIUS III., Pope, i
Hours, canonical, Francis s observance of, 166
Humility, Francis s teaching concerning, 83, &c.
IDLE WORDS, how dealt with, 148
Idleness, Francis s ordinance against, 147
Innocent III., Pope, the Rules of Francis laid before, i, 46
JAMES THE SIMPLE, brother, 96
Jaqueline of Settesoli, 200 ; visits Francis, 201 ; and bears
gifts, 202
John the countryman, his help to Francis, 92 ; leaves his own
people, 93 ; and follows Francis, 94 j he dies, and is
called John the Saint, 96
John Good, the leech of Arezzo, 219
John de Laudibus, brother, his strength, 153
Juniper, brother, his patience, 153
KNOWLEDGE, Francis s fear of, for the brethren, 121, 127.
128
LARK, the crested, Francis s love for, 204
22 9
Index
Laudes Domino, 148, 180, 181 j chanting of, to cheer the dying
Francis, 217
Layman, a, martyred by Saracens, 136
Lent, S. Martin s, 103
Leo, brother, of Assisi, i ; Christ makes complaint to, 81 j
his purity, 152 ; he chants the Song of the Sun to Francis,
222
Leo, the cardinal, 114
Leper, Francis eats with a, 97, 98
Lepers, behaviour of Francis cowards, 71
Lodola Cafel/ata, 204
Lucca, son of a nobleman of, 186
Lucido, brother, his solicitude, 153
Lucifer, his seat reserved for Francis, 100
MACHILONI, a poor woman of, 65
Masseo, brother, his gracious aspect, 153
Mice, temptation of Francis by means of, 176
Minister General, authority exercised by, over Francis, 57 j
Peter of Catana appointed as, 65 ; S. Mary of the Little
Portion put under the charge of the, 89
Minstrels of the Lord, 179
Money, Francis s execration of, 26
Mostacciuoloy or marchpane, Francis s wish for, 201
NATIVITY, Francis at the feast of the, 33 5 how he would have
it observed, 206
OBEDIENCE, the perfect manner of, 76
Ostia, Ugolirio, Bishop of, Legate in Lombardy, 13 ; afterwards
Pope Gregory IX., 36 ; Francis visits him and begs alms,
39 ; he remonstrates with Francis, 40 ; Francis and
Dominic before him, 68 ; he forbids Francis to leave
Italy, noj Francis visits him, 114; the brethren appeal
to him, 119 ; he admonishes Francis, 163
PACIFICO, brother, called King of Verse, 98, 178 j his vision,
99 5 is sent to France, 112
Perugia, the soldiers of, hinder the preaching of Francis, 188
and are punished, 190
2 3
Index
Peter of Catana, Minister General of Francis, 63 ; becomes
Superior, 65 j he hales Francis in penance by a rope,
102
Poor Ladies, Francis makes hymns for the, 161
Poverty, Rule of, 6 ; chosen by Francis, 30 j our Lady, 128
Psalter, desire of a novice to possess a, tf-ii
Pyxes, Francis provides, 109
RICHER or THE MARCH, brother, 4, 29
Rieti, Bishop of, 72 ; a poor priest of, 187
Rivo Torto, an idle brother at, 43 j a dying brother at, 47 j
brother Egidius at, 61
Roaches, annual quit-rent of, for the place of S. Mary, 87
Robbers, Francis s dealings with the, 112
Rocca Brizzi, Francis preaches at, 62
Rogero, brother, his charity, 153
Rufinus, the holy, his activity, 153
Rule, the, i, 6, 19, 135
S. MARY or THE ANGELS, OR OF THE LITTLE PORTION, place
of, 1 1 j general chapter held annually at, 13 ; how Fran
cis would^have the houses of, built, 23 j Franc s sojourns
a *> 63 ; given to the brethren by the Abbot of S. Bene
dict, 85 j Francis s zeal for, 147 j verses on, 151:
Francis is sick at, 200 j Francis dies at, 224
Salutation given by the brothers Minor, 46
Siena, Francis visits, 18, 53 ; a doctor of theology of, 82
Spoleto, vale of, 112
Stigmata received by Francis, 176
Subasio, Monte, 85
TABLE ROUND, Francis s knights of the, 129
Trees and stones, Francis s love for, 212
VINEYARD, a poor priest s, despoiled, 187
Virgin, the Blessed, her love for her church of the Little
Portion, 88
WARDEN, Francis s, 60, 74
231
Index
Water, Francis s love for, 212
Wattles, chapter of the, 119
[/ hi* dates Brother Leo makes use of the Pisan style, lohich is
nine months and seven days In advance of our oivn. All the
MSS. collated by M. Sabatier agree in the statement that
Francis died in his forty-first year ; but M, Sabatier regards
it as established that the saint ivas forty-five at the time of
his death.]
2
-
Printed by BALLANTYNE HANSON <2r* Co.
Edinburgh &* London
BX 4700 .F67 E5 1920 SMC
Mirror of perfection. Engli
The mirror of perfection
47230563
Live Music Archive
Librivox Free Audio
Metropolitan Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Internet Arcade
Console Living Room
Books to Borrow
Open Library
TV News
Understanding 9/11